POLARIZATION OF LI(2P) PRODUCED BY LI-NA(3S) COLLISIONS()

The differential cross sections for electron transfer in Li+-Na(3s) co llisions in the 0.4-14 keV energy range are studied using the impact p arameter semiclassical method and a 28-state molecular orbital basis m odel including a common translational factor. The calculated different ial cross section (DCS) for electron transfer to Li(2s) and Li(2p) and the three Stokes parameters of the Li(2p) final state are in excellen t agreement with the measured DCS at 1 keV and 3 keV. The energy depen dence of the final-state polarization for electron transfer to Li(2p) is explained using animations of the density and current of the electr onic wave function complemented by time-dependent molecular state popu lations. We find that different transfer mechanisms dominate at low an d high collision velocities.