Time-dependent mean-field description for multiple charge-transfer processes in Ar8+-Ar collisions - art. no. 062721

We present a quantum-mechanical study of multiple-electron transfer process es in collisions between a highly charged ion and an atom, taking Ar8+-Ar c ollisions as an example. We employ time-dependent mean-field theories for t his purpose, with different levels of approximation for the exchange effect . The time-dependent single-electron equation is solved directly by a discr etization of the three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate into a uniform mesh . Calculations for various physical situations specified by the incident en ergy and the impact parameter are presented to elucidate the reaction mecha nisms. They provide us with intuitive pictures of the electronic dynamics a s well as a microscopic understanding of the reaction mechanisms. We also c ompare results with different treatments of the exchange effect to learn th e sensitivity of our results on the possible uncertainty of the theories.