Fully differential cross sections for ionization of H2 + by ion impact: Classical and quantum effects

Abstract

Single ionization of H2 + molecular ions by impact of bare ions is theoretically studied. Fully differential cross sections are calculated by employing the prior version of the continuum distorted wave-eikonal initial state model within an independent electron approximation. It is shown in this work that, under certain conditions there can exist a competition between classical and quantum mechanisms in the ionization reaction that gives rise to the suppression of characteristic classical structures, namely the binary and recoil peaks, from the ionization angular spectra. The existence of destructive quantum interferences due to the coherent emission of electrons from the neighbourhood of both molecular centres may be held as the responsible for the suppression of these classical signatures. Different behaviours are observed depending on whether the ground (gerade) or the first excited (ungerade) states of the H2 + target are analysed. Different values of the projectile nuclear charge and collision geometries are considered when alculating FDCS.