Ionization in High Energy Ion-Atom Collisions

Abstract

ion-atom collisionsscattering theoryion-atom ionizationionizationin ion-atom collisions Atomic species moving at high velocities form an important component of ionizing radiation. When these species interact with matter, they effect chemical and biological changes which originate with primary collision processes, usually the ejection of electrons. This chapter gives an overview of this primary process that has emerged from studies of the energy and angular distribution of electrons ejected by the impact of atomic or ionic projectiles on atomic targets. It seeks to highlight those features which are most ubiquitous [53.1,2]. Atomic units [53.3] are used, although e, m, and ℏ are sometimes exhibited explicitly to show the connection with standard treatments of the first Born approximation [53.1].