Small-Angle Differential Cross Sections for Symmetrical Resonant Charge Exchange in Molecular Hydrogen
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We measured state selective scattering angle distributions in non-dissociative-state single electron capture in $\lbrace 5, 7.5, 10\rbrace$ keV/u, $\left[\mathrm{H^+ + H_2}\right]$ and $\left[\mathrm{H_2^+ + H_2}\right]$ collisions, using Cold Target Recoil Ion Momentum Spectroscopy (COLTRIMS). In our measurements, range of the scattering angle was small where diffraction effect is expected to take place, and, the ground state electron capture - symmetrical resonant channel for the $\mathrm{H_2^+}$ projectile and near resonant channel for the $\mathrm{H^+}$ projectile - was fully resolved from other channels. We analyzed the data considering $\mathrm{H_2^+}$ and $\mathrm{H_2}$ possess two independent-identical scattering centers and exhibit multi center interference effect. By comparing these equal-velocity collisions, we investigated the atomic nature of the individual scattering centers. We observed Fraunhofer diffraction from a circular aperture like patterns with equal fringe widths, for both the projectiles, in ground state channel. We applied a simple toy model to reconstruct the circular apertures.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Institution: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Language: English
Topic: Atomic and Molecular Physics
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7213606616