THEORETICAL MODELS FOR ATOMIC CHARGE TRANSFER IN ION-ATOM COLLISIONS

Abstract

The current theoretical models for the description of electron transfer in adiabatic, intermediate and high-energy collisions are reviewed. Particular emphasis is laid on the recent development of atomic theories suited for fast or asymmetric ion-atom encounters. The comparison with other theories and with experimental data on total as well as differential capture cross sections is used to determine the applicability of a specific model. The selected examples concern capture to bound states, to continuum states, radiative transfer as well as capture in the presence of an isolated nuclear resonance.