Impact Ionization in the Proton-H-Atom-System. III. Electron Translation Factor and Transition Operators

Abstract

To meet asymptotic boundary conditions, the scattering wave function for an atomic collision must include a kinematic factor representing transport of an electron attached to a moving heavy particle. For slow collisions this factor grossly affects the inelastic transition operator and its matrix elements. The general conditions the factor must satisfy are discussed. Matrix elements for impact ionization are especially sensitive to the choice of the factor, and computed results obtained with several choices are described briefly. A heuristic criterion for systematic improvement of the factor is discussed.