Electron transfer inCa*(4snl)-Ca(4s2) collisions

The process of the electron transfer in collisions of highly excited Rydberg atoms with ground-state atoms is treated in the impulse approximation using the three-body Faddeev-equations approach. The cross section for the electron transfer in ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\mathrm{*}}$(4snl)-Ca(4${\mathit{s}}^2$) collisions is calculated as a function of the electron affinity of Ca. It is shown that the cross section is extremely sensitive to the electron affinity and thereby a recent experimental observation of this reaction by McLaughlin and Duquette provides a very accurate value of the electron affinity of Ca.