Two-center electron-electron interaction in projectile electron excitation and loss

Abstract

The specific interaction between an electron on the target and an electron on the projectile in an atomic collision is illustrated by means of projectile electron excitation and loss. In that case, the target electron plays a dual role, on the one hand, decreasing the projectile excitation/loss (screening interaction) and, on the other hand, enhancing the excitation/loss (antiscreening interaction). These two interactions have different dynamics and different impact-parameter dependencies, which permit their specific characterization and experimental separation.