Eur. Phys. J. D 45, 179-187 (2007)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2007-00250-2

Photodetachment of H^- in parallel electric and magnetic fields near an elastic surface

College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, P.R. China

Corresponding author: ^a jnwdh@sohu.com

Received: 6 May 2007
Revised: 22 June 2007
Published online: 8 August 2007

Abstract

Using the closed orbit theory, we give a clear physical picture description of the photodetachment of H^- in parallel electric and magnetic fields near an elastic surface. It is found that the surface can produce some interesting effects. Besides the closed orbits previously found by Peters et al. for the H^- in parallel electric and magnetic fields, some additional closed orbits are produced due to the effect of the elastic surface. The photodetachment cross section of this system is also derived and calculated. The results show that the cross section depends on the external field strength and the ion-surface distance, which is more complicated in contrast with the cross section of H^- in parallel electric and magnetic fields without surface. Therefore we can control the photodetachment cross section of the negative ion by changing the external field strength and the ion-surface distance. This study provides a new understanding of the photodetachment process of negative ion in the presence of external field and surface.