Production of KRb+: the relative efficiency of two competing channels

At thermal energies, the Hornbeck Molnar ionization (HMI) cross-sections fo r the production of heteronuclear alkali dimer KRb+ are calculated using th e improved theoretical approach within the framework of Fermi's free-electr on model. For the first time we report the associative ionization cross-sec tion for a heteronuclear system involving excited K and Rb alkali-metal ato ms. The roles of two alternative reactions for the production of KRb+ are d iscussed. Present cross-sections successfully account For the relative effi ciency of the two competing channels that can produce the above molecular i on. At large n (i.e. n --> infinity) the present cross-sections obey the co rrect asymptotic behavior, in conformity with the previous homonuclear stud ies of Kumar et al. (see A. Kumar, B.C. Saha, C.A. Weatherford, S.K.Verma, J. Mel. Struct. (Theochem) 487 (1999) 1). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.