Generalized oscillator strength distribution

Here Z is the charge of the projectile with velocity v. In order to calculate stopping powers for atomic and molecular targets with reliability, however, one must choose a one-electron basis set appropriate for calculation of the generalized oscillator strength distribution (GOSD). The development of reasonable criteria for the choice of a reliable basis for such calculations is the concern of this paper. 

Thus the Bethe sum rule is fulfilled exactly in the RPA at all values of the momentum transferred, provided that a complete basis set is used. Therefore, as in the case of the TRK sum rule when optical transition properties (q = 0) are considered, we expect that the BSR sum rule will be useful in evaluating basis set completeness when generalized oscillator strength distributions are calculated, for example for use in calculating stopping cross sections. It should be noted [12] that the completeness of the computational basis set is dependent on q, and thus care needs be taken to evaluate the BSR at various values of q. 

Inelastic collisions of swift, charged particles with matter are completely described by the distribution of generalized oscillator strengths (GOS s) characterizing the collision. These quantities, characteristic of excitation in the N-electron target (or, in fact, of a dressed projectile as well [1]) from some initial state 0) to a final state n) and concomitant momentum transfer, can be written... 

For spectra corresponding to transitions from excited levels, line intensities depend on the mode of production of the spectra, therefore, in such cases the general expressions for moments cannot be found. These moments become purely atomic quantities if the excited states of the electronic configuration considered are equally populated (level populations are proportional to their statistical weights). This is close to physical conditions in high temperature plasmas, in arcs and sparks, also when levels are populated by the cascade of elementary processes or even by one process obeying non-strict selection rules. The distribution of oscillator strengths is also excitation-independent. In all these cases spectral moments become purely atomic quantities. If, for local thermodynamic equilibrium, the Boltzmann factor can be expanded in a series of powers (AE/kT)n (this means the condition AE < kT), then the spectral moments are also expanded in a series of purely atomic moments. 

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