Strong potential second Born theory for low-energy electron emission in asymmetric collisions

Abstract

The ejection of low-energy target electrons by heavy projectiles is calculated in a second Born approximation, allowing for propagation of the electrons in the strong projectile field. For neutral projectile impact this theory provides a satisfactory description of the collision process down to quite low impact velocities. This is shown by comparing the theory with experimental electron spectra from 0.1 MeV/amu Ne0 on He. However, when the projectile is charged the influence of its potential on the electronic final state may only be neglected for ejection of very low-energy electrons into the backward direction.