Charge exchange in alkali cluster collisions

Collisional charge exchange between mass selected alkali cluster ions and Cs has been studied and cross sections have been determined for the processes Nan++Cs and Kn++Cs, with n=1-21 and n=1-14, respectively. A strong dependence of the cross sections on the energy defect as well as on cluster size and collision energy is found. The results are analysed by a coupled two state density matrix model, taking account of the relaxation of electronic amplitudes due to interaction with the nuclear motion in the cluster. (orig.)