Coulomb 'path' interference in low energy He(sup +) + He collisions.

摘要

A new interference mechanism, analogous to ''classic'' double-slit electron scattering, has been identified in low energy ion-atom collisions. This Coulomb ''path'' interference results from the existence of two trajectories, indistinguishable with respect to laboratory energy and emission angle, along which ejected autoionizing electrons may be scattered by the attractive Coulomb potential of the slowly receding spectator ion. We present a simple semi-classical model for this effect in which we account for the path dependence of the amplitude of the ejected electron following decay of the autoionizing state. Calculated model lineshapes are found to be in excellent agreement with strong angular dependence of the interference structure observed in the He target 2s(sup 2) (sup 1)S autoionizing lineshape measured near 0(degree) following 10 keV He(sup +) + He collisions.