The stopping of low energy ions in reactions of astrophysical interest

The velocity dependence of the stopping power of swift protons and deuterons in low energy collisions with hydrogen and helium gas targets is investigated with the numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger coupled-channels equations using molecular orbital wavefunctions. At low projectile energies the stopping is mainly due to nuclear stopping, charge exchange of the electron, and excitation of the lowest levels in the target. The second and third mechanisms dominate at E < 200 eV. At lower energies it is also shown that a threshold effect is responsible for a quick drop of the energy loss. This investigation sheds more light on the long standing electron screening problem in fusion reactions of astrophysical interest.