The influence of metastable states in electron capture processes is exhibit
ed for the example of the N5+(1s2s) + He and B3+(1s2s) + H collisions. Ab i
nitio calculations with configuration interaction have been used throughout
for the determination of the potential energy curves and couplings of the
states involved in the reactions, The collision dynamics has been performed
by semi-classical methods in the keV energy range, (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien
ce B.V. All rights reserved.