Charge Transfer inH+-H−Collisions

Abstract

The cross section for the charge transfer in ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$-${\mathrm{H}}^{-}$ collisions has been theoretically investigated. An expansion in terms of products of atomic wave functions has been used which takes account of the possibilities of the capture of an electron into the $2s$, $2p_0$, and $2p_{\pm 1}$ states. Theoretical results for the capture cross section have been presented for the incident ion energy ranging from 0.5 to 8 keV. Variation with the impact parameter of the probabilities of capture into the excited states have also been shown for several incident ion energies. The present theoretical results for the total capture cross sections are found to be in much better agreement with the experimental findings than are the previously calculated values of Bates and Lewis.