DYNAMICS OF ELECTRON CORRELATION PROCESSES IN ATOMS AND ATOMIC-COLLISIONS

The dynamics of electron correlation processes are discussed for atoms and ion-atom collision systems. These processes are introduced in analogy with stationary electron correlation phenomena which are well known from atomic structure theory. The role of the Hartree-Fock method in finding a solution within the independent-particle model is pointed out. The concept of configuration interaction is discussed in order to clarify the verification of electron correlation processes. Configuration mixing is treated in stationary states involving bound and continuum electrons. It is pointed out that a specific electron correlation effect in a stationary state corresponds to an analogous effect in a state which evolves in time. In separated atoms emphasis is given to the Auger effect. In ion-atom collisions double ionization and double excitation are analyzed as examples for processes involving dynamic electron correlation. © 1990 IOP Publishing Ltd.