Multi-Electron Transfer of Ar^+ Colliding with Ne Atoms Based on a Time-Dependent Density-Functional Theory

The multi-electron capture and loss cross-sections of Ar^+–Ne collisions are calculated at absolute energies in the few-keV/a.u. regime. The calculations are performed using a novel inverse collision framework, in the context of a time-dependent density functional theory, combined with molecular dynamics. The extraction of the capture and loss probabilities is based on the particle-number projection technique, originating from nuclear physics, but validly extended to represent many-electron systems. Good agreement between experimental and theoretical data is found, which clearly reveals the non-negligible post-collision decay of the projectile's electrons, providing further evidence for the applicability of the approach to complex many-electron collision systems.