SELECTIVE-STATE CHARGE-TRANSFER IN A COLLISION BETWEEN A LI-3+ ION AND A GROUND-STATE LI ATOM - A MOLECULAR-STATE APPROACH

The semiclassical, impact-parameter method, based on a 15-state molecular-orbital expansions, is employed to calculate the cross sections for charge transfer in Li3+ -Li collisions. Electron-translation effects have been taken into account. In addition to total capture, cross sections for capture into individual states have also been calculated. The present results show qualitative agreement with the other available theory; details, however, are different. It is found that this reaction, through state-selective capture into the n = 4 manifold of Li2+, may provide a useful mechanism to achieve population inversion necessary for short-wavelength lasers.