Fully differential cross sections for $ Li^{2+}$-impact ionization of $Li(2s)$ and $Li(2p)$

TL;DR

This study develops a semiclassical impact parameter approach to calculate fully differential ionization cross sections of lithium atoms by lithium ions at 16 MeV, comparing results with quantum theory and experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a semiclassical impact parameter method for differential ionization cross sections, considering post-prior discrepancies and comparing with quantum and experimental data.

Findings

Reasonable agreement with experimental and quantum data in most cases.

Significant differences for $2p$-state ionization where no experimental data exist.

Further experiments needed to resolve theoretical discrepancies.

Abstract

A semiclassical impact parameter version of the continuum distorted wave-Eikonal initial state theory is developed to study the differential ionization of $Li$ atoms in collisions with $Li^{2+}$ ions. Both post and prior forms of the transition amplitude are considered. The fully differential cross sections are calculated for the lithium targets in their ground and their first excited states and for the projectile ions at 16~MeV impact energy. The role of the internuclear interaction as well as the significance of the post-prior discrepancy in the ejected electron spectra are investigated. The obtained results for ejection of the electron into the azimuthal plane are compared with the recent measurements and with their corresponding values obtained using a fully quantum mechanical version of the theory. In most of the cases, the consistency of the present approach with the experimental and the quantum theoretical data is reasonable. However, for $2p$-state ionization, in the cases where no experimental data exist, there is a considerable difference between the two theoretical approaches. This difference is questionable and further experiments are needed to judge which theory makes a more accurate description of the collision dynamics.