Relativistic eikonal theory of electron capture

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.32.112· OSTI ID:5604345

Eichler, J

The eikonal theory of electron capture by relativistic projectiles is developed. It is shown that as long as the electron spin is not measured, a density-matrix formalism can greatly simplify the calculation. The exact eikonal cross section is expressed in terms of two-dimensional integrals. For 1s-1s capture an approximate closed-form expression valid for not too high nuclear charges is also given. This form explicitly displays contributions from magnetic capture and from relativistic modifications of the electron orbits. At each stage of the development the corresponding Oppenheimer-Brinkman-Kramers (OBK) result can be retrieved as a special case. It is concluded that the multiple-scattering contributions described by the eikonal approach are crucial in reducing the calculated cross section significantly below the OBK and second-Born-approximation values. In this way, good agreement with experimental data is obtained.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 and Molecular Physics Department, SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025
• OSTI ID: 5604345
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 32:1; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOM COLLISIONS
CAPTURE
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DENSITY MATRIX
EIKONAL APPROXIMATION
ELECTRON CAPTURE
ENERGY RANGE
IMPULSE APPROXIMATION
ION COLLISIONS
ION-ATOM COLLISIONS
MATRICES
MULTIPLE SCATTERING
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SCATTERING