Environment assisted electron capture

TL;DR

This paper reveals that in environments, non-radiative electron capture via interatomic electron correlation can dominate over traditional photorecombination in isolated atoms and ions.

Contribution

It introduces a new interatomic electron capture process driven by environment-induced electron correlation, with derived cross section expressions and demonstrable dominance over photorecombination.

Findings

Interatomic electron capture can surpass photorecombination in certain conditions.

Derived asymptotic cross section expressions for the interatomic process.

Explicit examples show the process's dominance under realistic conditions.

Abstract

Electron capture by {\it isolated} atoms and ions proceeds by photorecombination. In this process a species captures a free electron by emitting a photon which carries away the excess energy. It is shown here that in the presence of an {\it environment} a competing non-radiative electron capture process can take place due to long range electron correlation. In this interatomic (intermolecular) process the excess energy is transferred to neighboring species. The asymptotic expression for the cross section of this process is derived. We demonstrate by explicit examples that under realizable conditions the cross section of this interatomic process can clearly dominate that of photorecombination.