Projectile excitation to the $\mathbf{2s2p}$ $\mathbf{^{3}\!P}$ and $\mathbf{^{1}\!P}$ autoionizing states in swift collisions of He-like carbon and oxygen mixed-state $\mathbf{(1s^2, 1s2s\,^{3,1}S)}$ ion beams with helium

TL;DR

This study investigates projectile autoionizing state production in swift collisions of He-like carbon and oxygen ions with helium, combining high-resolution spectroscopy with advanced atomic calculations to improve understanding of multielectron excitation processes.

Contribution

It introduces a non-perturbative close-coupling approach for modeling multielectron excitations in ion-atom collisions, advancing theoretical understanding without relying on scaling parameters.

Findings

Experimental Auger yields are larger than theoretical predictions by factors of 1.2 to 7.6.

Agreement improves when larger $1s2s$ state fractions are considered.

The approach enhances modeling of complex multielectron quantum systems under ultrafast perturbations.

Abstract

The production of the projectile $2s2p\,^{3}\!P$ and $2s2p\,^{1}\!P$ autoionizing states is investigated in 0.5-1.5 MeV/u collisions of He-like carbon and oxygen mixed-state three-component $(1s^2,1s2s\,^{3}\!S,1s2s\,^{1}\!S)$ ion beams with helium targets. The mixed-state beams are produced in the stripping systems of the 5.5~MV Demokritos tandem accelerator. Using high-resolution Auger projectile electron spectroscopy, the normalized Auger electron yields are measured at $0^\circ$ relative to the beam direction. In addition, a three-electron atomic orbital close-coupling approach, employing full configuration interaction and antisymmetrization of the three-electron, two-center total wave function, is applied to calculate the production cross sections for these states from each of the three initial ion beam components. Thereupon, the theoretical Auger yields are computed and found to be smaller than experiment by factors ranging from about 1.2 to 7.6. Agreement, however, improves when larger $1s2s\,^{1}\!S$ fractions, not only based on spin statistics, are projected. Overall, this non-perturbative treatment of excitation, which does not rely on scaling parameters or renormalization, marks a significant advancement in the modeling of multielectron, multi-open-shell quantum systems subjected to ultrafast perturbations, where current understanding remains incomplete.