Orientation and alignment effects for one-electron transfer processes in ion-atom collisions involving an optically prepared target

Recent aspects in the study of the role of electronic orbital alignment and orientation in one-electron transfer processes induced in atomic collisions are reviewed. We focus on the study of collisions involving a laser prepared target, in the range where the collision velocity v(c) and the velocity of the active electron v(c) are of comparable magnitude. Results obtained in the recent years, both for total electron capture cross sections and for angular scattering analysis, are presented and discussed in terms of simple models.