Separation of inner- and outer-shell contributions to the charge state distributions in close atomic collisions

Abstract

Charge state distributions resulting from small impact parameter collisions between ions from the second row of the periodic table in the 0.5-1.0 MeV energy range were studied. The average charge of the scattered projectile exhibits an impact parameter dependence which is convex for colliding systems with Z1 Z2. These results were interpreted as a superposition of contributions of an inner shell promotion effect and an impact parameter independent outer shell interaction. The good agreement with the shape predicted by the rotational coupling model allows a quantitative estimate of the two components.