INFLUENCE OF ATOMIC EXCITATION PROCESSES ON NUCLEAR-RESONANCE YIELD CURVES - AN AB-INITIO STUDY

Recently Schulte et al reported measurements on atomic excitation and ionization processes occurring prior to nuclear resonances in low-ener gy ion-atom collisions. From the asymmetric yield curves for the narro w resonances in the Ne-21 + p reaction, excitation probabilities for t he Ne K- and L-shell were deduced. Using an ab initio time-dependent L CAOMO Dirac-Fock formalism we investigate these (b approximate to 0)-c ollisions, the AO-basis being given by the projectile and target wavef unctions. As the nuclear reaction reduces the full trajectory of the p rojectile to the entrance channel, comparing theoretical models with t hese experimental results allows for a detailed study of final-state w avefunctions at these exotic internuclear distances. Good agreement is reached for the K- and L1, 2-shell excitation probabilities whereas w e get a significant discrepancy for the L3-shell excitation probabilit y.