Ion scattering from state-selected Rydberg atoms

Abstract

Classical-trajectory Monte Carlo calculations have been performed for collisions of protons with state-selected hydrogenic Rydberg atoms. The examples investigated were Rydberg atoms in the $n=10$, $l=9$ level with ${m}_{l}=0 \mathrm{and} 9$. The collision velocity range was 0.1 to 1.0 a.u. (2.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{7}$ to 2.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{8}$ cm/s). The ionization cross sections were found to be relatively insensitive to changes in the ${m}_{l}$ levels. However, the charge-transfer cross sections showed considerable enhancement if the Rydberg electron is orientated in a plane which is parallel to the direction of the incident projectile.