Charge-transfer dynamics in slow atom–surface collisions: a new close-coupling approach including continuum discretization

Within a new two-center close-coupling expansion, we solve the time-dependent Schrِdinger equation for an active electron interacting with a slow projectile and a metal surface. The continuum of conduction-band states corresponding to the motion of the active electron in the metal subspace along the surface normal is discretized in terms of wave packets. Results for the time evolution of the atomic and metallic population amplitudes for an excited hydrogen atom near an aluminum surface are shown and discussed.