Resonant electron scattering and dielectronic recombination in two-center atomic systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a neighboring atom influences electron scattering and dielectronic recombination in two-center atomic systems, revealing significant effects on scattering angles and recombination rates through theoretical analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed theoretical framework for two-center electron interactions, highlighting the impact of neighboring atoms on scattering and recombination processes.

Findings

Backward angle electron scattering can be significantly enhanced.

Scaling laws for two-center dielectronic recombination are derived.

Various ion-atom systems and transitions show notable effects.

Abstract

Electron scattering and dielectronic recombination with an ion in the presence of a neighboring atom is studied. The incident electron is assumed to be captured by the ion, leading to resonant excitation of the atom which afterwards may stabilize either by electron re-emission or radiative decay. We show that the participation of the atom can strongly affect, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the corresponding processes of electron scattering and recombination. Various ion-atom systems and electronic transitions are considered. In particular we show that electron scattering under backward angles may be strongly enhanced and derive the scaling behavior of two-center dielectronic recombination with the principal quantum numbers of the participating atomic states.