Ionisation in atom-Rydberg atom collisions: ejected electron energy spectra and reaction rate coefficients

Abstract

Using the resonant internal energy conversion mechanism for inelastic atom-Rydberg atom slow collisions, the energy spectra of ejected electrons and the rate coefficients for the ionisation process are calculated analytically. Reaction rates for H*(n)+H, Cs*(n)+Cs, Rb*(n)+Rb and K*(n)+Rb colliding systems are calculated and compared with the available experimental data.