In this work we present an improvement over the over-barrier model (OBM) described in a recent paper [F. Sattin, Phys. Rev. A 62, 042711 (2000)]. We show that (i) one of the two free parameters introduced there actually comes out consistently from the starting assumptions underlying the model; (ii) the modified model thus obtained is as much accurate as the former one. Furthermore, we show that OBMs are able to accurately predict some recent results of state-selective electron capture, at odds with what was previously supposed.

• Received 19 March 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.64.034704