QUASI-MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF ORIENTATION AND ALIGNMENT IN B(3+) RARE-GAS ELECTRON-CAPTURE PROCESSES

An analysis of orientation and alignment effects in electron capture by B3+ ions colliding with helium and neon targets at a few keV collision energy is presented. The study is based on a one-electron quasi-molecular description of the potentials and interactions. The dynamics of the collision is treated in a semiclassical impact-parameter frame. The results are compared with the analytical results of Ostrovsky, the atomic basis calculations of Roncin et al (preceding paper), and with experimental data. Special attention is given to a discussion of which physical properties are actually probe by the experiments.