Pauli blocking and laser manipulation of the electron dynamics in atomic collisions

The role of the Pauli exclusion principle and laser-assisted processes in ion-atom collisions are investigated in a common theoretical framework. The treatment is based on a non-perturbative, quantal description of the electron dynamics driven by classical, external potentials, and the basis generator method is used to solve the resulting time-dependent Schrödinger (-type) equations. Pauli exclusion is studied for He+(1s) collisions with neon and argon atoms, and laser-assisted electron transfer is investigated for the prototype one-electron scattering system He2+-H(1s). Large effects are found in both cases, namely significant Pauli 'blocking' of capture to partially filled shells, and a strong enhancement of laser-assisted electron transfer at low collision energies.