https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050097
Ionization of metal clusters by ions in the Fermi velocity range
1
Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Erlangen,
Staudtstr. 7, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
2
Laboratoire de Physique Quantique,
Université Paul Sabatier,
118 route de Narbonne,
31062 Toulouse Cedex, France
3
Department of Physics, University of Missouri,
Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
Corresponding author: a suraud@irsamc2.ups-tlse.fr
Received:
28
July
1997
Revised:
23
December
1997
Accepted:
8
January
1998
Published online: 15 March 1998
We simulate excitation of metal clusters by highly charged, energetic ions,
analyzing electron emission in terms of discrete ionization
probabilities. Our test case is the collision of 
on the cluster 
at velocities around the
electronic Fermi velocity of bulk sodium. The calculations are performed
with a density-functional approach, using the time-dependent local density
approximation. We find that ionization takes place on an extremely
short time scale of less than 5 fs.
The preferred final charge state depends sensitively on the impact
parameter. High ionization can easily be achieved in sufficiently
close collisions. Direct trapping through the by-passing ion is found
to be of little importance at the velocities considered.
PACS: 36.40.Cg – Electronic and magnetic properties of clusters / 36.40.Wa – Charged clusters / 36.40.Gk – Plasma and collective effects in clusters
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 1998
