Dynamical stabilization of classical multi-electron targets against autoionization

We demonstrate that a recently published quasiclassical Moller type approach (Geyer and Rost 2002 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 35 1479) can be used to overcome the problem of autoionization, which arises in classical trajectory calculations for many-electron targets. In this method, the target is stabilized dynamically by a backward-forward propagation scheme. We illustrate this refocusing and present total cross sections for single and double ionization of helium by electron impact. (letter to the editor)