Interaction of antiprotons with Rb atoms and a comparison of antiproton stopping powers of the atoms H, Li, Na, K, and Rb

TL;DR

This study calculates ionization, excitation, and stopping powers of alkali metal atoms colliding with antiprotons across a wide energy range, using a time-dependent approach and effective one-electron models, and compares them with hydrogen collision data.

Contribution

It provides new detailed calculations of antiproton interactions with alkali atoms and compares these with hydrogen, enhancing understanding of antiproton stopping powers in different atoms.

Findings

Calculated cross sections for alkali metals and hydrogen.

Comparison shows similarities and differences in stopping powers.

Results span a broad impact-energy range from 0.25 keV to 4000 keV.

Abstract

Ionization and excitation cross sections as well as electron-energy spectra and stopping powers of the alkali metal atoms Li, Na, K, and Rb colliding with antiprotons were calculated using a time-dependent channel-coupling approach. An impact-energy range from 0.25 keV to 4000 keV was considered. The target atoms are treated as effective one-electron systems using a model potential. The results are compared with calculated cross sections for antiproton-hydrogen atom collisions.