Hollow-ion formation in microcapillaries - art. no. 042902

Transmission of highly charged ions through microcapillaries is studied the oretically by a classical trajectory simulation. The interaction of highly charged ions with the internal surface of the capillary is treated within t he framework of dielectric-response theory. The simulation is based on the classical over-the-barrier model modified for open cylindrical surfaces. Th e multielectron evolution and relaxation is taken into account as a stochas tic event sequence. We consider N6+ and Ne10+ with an energy of 2.1 keV/amu passing through a metallic microcapillary of Ni. We analyze the distance o f closest approach. the angular distribution, and the distribution of the m ean occupation numbers of n shells of highly charged ions. We find the resu lting charge state distribution of transmitted projectiles in good agreemen t with recent measurements. Implications for nanotube targets will be discu ssed.