Theoretical Study of Few-Body Processes

Missouri University Of Science And Technology, Rolla MO

Investigators

Abstract

Collision physics is entering an incredibly exciting time as a result of recent new experimental advances such as the COLTRIMS (cold-target recoil-ion momentum spectroscopy) method. With this method, one can obtain full three-dimensional, absolute cross sections for ionization of atoms and molecules by an arbitrarily charged particle. Details such as these were basically impossible to obtain prior to this experimental breakthrough and place new and heavy demands on theorists to compute, understand and eventually predict the results of such experiments. This research is to theoretically and computationally examine several open questions in the field of charged particle ionization of atoms and molecules with both one and two active electrons using distorted wave methods and apply them to targets of interest to experimentalists using COLTRIMS.