Charge transfer in H + He$^+$ and H$^+$ + He collisions in excited states

Abstract

We present a theoretical study of charge transfer in collisions of excited ($n=2,3$) hydrogen atoms with He$^+$ and in collisions of excited ($n=2,3$) helium atoms with H$^+$, extending the results of Phys. Rev. A 82 012708 (2010). A combination of quantum-mechanical and semi-classical approaches is employed to calculate the charge-exchange cross sections at collision energies from 0.1 eV/u up to 1 keV/u. These methods are based on accurate ab initio potential energy curves and non-adiabatic couplings for the molecular ion HeH$^+$. Charge transfer can occur either in singlet or in triplet states, and the differences between the singlet and triplet spin manifolds are discussed. The dependence of the cross section on the quantum numbers $n$ and $l$ of the initial state is demonstrated. The isotope effect on the charge transfer cross sections, arising at low collision energy when H is substituted by D or T, is investigated. Finally, the impact of the present calculations on models of laboratory plasmas is discussed.