Charge transfer in collisions of Na9+ clusters with Cs atoms: a comparison with experiment

We have evaluated charge transfer cross sections for Na9+ + Cs collisions using a molecular close-coupling formalism in the framework of the independent electron model. Our results are in good agreement with recent experimental measurements below v = 0.04 au and confirm existing discrepancies with previous experimental data. At low velocity, the calculated cross section exhibits the typical behaviour found in ion-atom collisions: a rapid increase with v followed by a plateau. More interestingly, our theory predicts that the cross section increases again at higher velocities, which calls for experimental confirmation.