Coupled-channel theory of excitation and charge transfer in relativistic atomic collisions

The theory for a fully relativistic, two-center, coupled-channel treatment of atomic collisions between high-Z ions has been developed and applied to ${\mathrm{U}}^{92+}$+${\mathrm{U}}^{91+}$ collisions at 500 MeV/amu and to ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{54+}$+Ag and ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{54+}$+Au collisions at 82, 140, and 197 MeV/amu. In the former case, a set of 36, and in the latter a set of up to 29 atomic Dirac basis states has been used. Detailed state-to-state cross sections for excitation and charge transfer are presented. For charge transfer in ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{54+}$+Ag and ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{54+}$+Au collisions, the calculated results are generally in good agreement with experimental data. Relativistically induced magnetic couplings of unusually long range are identified and classified with respect to their selection rules and range dependences.