The influence of pseudo states on the single-electron capture processes in low-energy collisions of N5+ with He

Abstract

The nonradiative single-electron capture (SEC) processes for N5+(1s2) colliding with He atoms are investigated by using the quantum-mechanical molecular-orbital close-coupling method. Total and state-selective SEC cross sections are obtained in the energy range of 3–1700 eV amu−1, for which the ab initio potential curves and nonadiabatic coupling matrix elements (involving physical and pseudo states) are computed by using the multireference single- and double-excitation configuration-interaction method. It is found that the pseudo states are also important to obtain the convergent results, especially in the low-energy region. Moreover, our results indicate that the n = 3 states are the dominant states in the considered energy region, and that the electron translation factor effects become important when the energy is above 1 keV amu−1. In addition, it is observed that the total and state-selective cross sections for SEC are in general agreement with all available experimental data.