Revisiting atomic collisions physics with highly charged ions, a tribute to Michel Barat

• Published in: Journal of physics. B, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Vol. 53; no. 20; pp. 202001 - 202011
• Main Author: Roncin, Philippe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 29.10.2020
• Subjects: collision physics; electron capture; highly charged ions; Physics; Quantum Physics
• ISSN: 0953-4075; 1361-6455
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6455/abaaf9

Michel Barat passed away in November 2018 at the age of 80 after a rich career in atomic and molecular collisions. He had participated actively in formalizing the electron promotion model, contribuing to low energy reactive collisions at the frontier of chemistry. He investigated electron capture mechanisms by highly charged ions (HCI), switched to collision induced cluster dissociation and finally to UV laser induced fragmentation mechanisms of biological molecules. During this highly active time he created a laboratory, organized ICPEAC and participated actively in the administration of research. This paper covers the 10 years when he mentored my scientific activity in the blossoming field of electron capture by HCI. In spite of an impressive number of open channels, Michel found a way to capture the important parameters and to simplify the description of several electron capture processes; orientation propensity, electron promotion, true double electron capture, transfer ionisation, transfer excitation, formation of Rydberg states, and electron capture by metastable states. Each time Michel established fruitful collaborations with other groups.