Charge Exchange Collisions Involving Multielectron Atoms (Lithium and Sodium)

Abstract

The cross section for forming both ground state and excited state hydrogen atoms by charge exchange between protons and lithium or sodium atoms is calculated. These calculations are performed using the Brinkman-Kramers approximation along with a multiplicative correction factor; the target lithium and sodium atoms are first described by simple "effective-Z" wavefunctions, and then the lithium case is treated more accurately both by including the inner electrons and by using a more accurate numerical lithium wavefunction.