Single- and double-electron capture in intermediate-energy H++Mg collisions

Abstract

Single- and double-electron-capture processes occurring in the system of hydrogen ions colliding with alkaline-earth atoms, ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}+\mathrm{Mg}$, are investigated in a broad energy domain ranging from 0.25 to 180 keV. Total and state-selective cross sections are calculated using a two-active-electron semiclassical asymptotic-state close-coupling approach. Our results show the best overall agreement with experimental data, and possible reasons for observed discrepancies are discussed. Comparison of our cross sections with previous theoretical results further demonstrates the importance of electronic correlations between the magnesium valence electrons and the strong couplings between various important channels. Furthermore, our investigations suggest that the oscillatory structures observed in the double-electron-capture cross sections stem from complex coherence effects between double-electron capture, electron transfer to excited states, and transfer-excitation processes.