2p(sigma) molecular orbital radiation of colliding atoms: dynamical-model predictions versus experimental data

The formation and radiative decay of quasimolecules with inner shell vacancies in energetic ion-atom collisions manifest themselves by a drastic change of electronic binding energies so strong that a new notation has been introduced, namely quasimolecular x-ray continua, or molecular orbital (MO) radiation. Experimental work to define x-ray continua of quasimolecular origin is reviewed in this paper. All results which indicate that the two distinct x-ray continua C1 and C2 are both of quasimolecular origin are summarized. It is shown how the maximum energies and intensities of these x-ray continua can be explained. Dynamical-model calculations of 2p(sigma) and 1s(sigma) MO radiation are carried out, and the effect of some of the improvements of a dynamic model are demonstrated. The explanation of the two-component structure of the x-ray spectra by one-collision 2p(sigma) and two collision 1s(sigma) MO radiation is now supported by the results of a dynamical calculation as well