3dsigma excitation in slow Ar-Kr collisions

The impact parameter dependence of Kr L-shell vacancy production in Ar-Kr collisions has been studied for collision energies ranging from 0.97 MeV to 10 MeV by measuring Kr-L X-rays in coincidence with scattered Ar ions. The experimental results have been theoretically analyzed by assuming vacancy production in the quasimolecular 3dsigma orbital to be the dominant primary mechanism for Kr L-shell vacancy production. Model calculations have been performed for 3dsigma excitation via 3ddelta-3dπ-3dsigma rotational coupling. The shape of the measured impact parameter dependence is satisfactorily reproduced if ('dynamically created') vacancies are assumed to be initially present in both the 3ddelta orbital and the 3dπ orbital. A strong dependence of the number of initial 3ddelta and 3dπ vacancies on collision energy is observed. (orig.)