Dynamics of inner-shell electrons in ion-atom collisions

Excitation and ionization are treated in time-dependent variational theory. We show how the variational method is related to and can be combined with perturbation theory. The quality of variational wave functions is estimated and a practicable error estimate is found. We use the method for a study of dynamical binding corrections in asymmetric but otherwise arbitrary collisions. The effect of recoil is analysed and its dependence on impact parameter and velocity is explained in analogy to classical mechanics. (orig.)