Use of the independent-particle model to treat curve-crossing transitions - art. no. 032714

We discuss the usefulness of the independent-particle model to describe cha rge-transfer processes. We consider. as a benchmark case, avoided crossing transitions in two-electron systems, described by means of the Landau-Zener -Stueckelberg model. It is shown that the independent-particle model, with an equivalent-electron interpretation of the one-electron transition probab ilities, reproduces single-electron transition probabilities for a wide ran ge of physical situations. Significant deviations with respect to a two-ele ctron calculation are related to Stueckelberg oscillations of the transitio n probabilities.