Single charge exchange in collision of fast protons with hydrogen molecules

Abstract

Single charge transfer process in collision of energetic protons with molecular hydrogens is theoretically studied using a first-order two-effective-center Born approximation. The correct boundary conditions are incorporated in the formalism and the Hartree–Fock molecular wave function for molecular targets and the residual ions are used to calculate the transition amplitude. The interference patterns in the capture differential cross-sections (DCSs) for a given fixed orientation of the molecule, due to the scattering from the two-atomic centers in the molecular targets, are examined. The dependence of the DCSs upon the angle between the molecular axis and the direction of the incident velocity is theoretically investigated. Both average differential and integral cross-sections are calculated. The obtained results are compared with the available experimental data.