Polarization, correlation, and distortion effects in excitation processes

Analytical expressions are derived for the asymptotic correlated three-body state of a Coulomb compound consisting of a continuum particle and an electron bound to a residual ion. The extension of these expressions to finite distances is also given. The distortion of the continuum particle’s motion by the Coulomb nuclear field and the field of the bound electron is investigated as well as the amount of polarization of the bound system due to coupling of the bound electron to the continuum particle.