Cross sections of inelastic processes in collisions between relativistic structured heavy ions and atoms

A nonperturbative method is developed for the calculation of cross sections of inelastic processes in collisions between structured high-charge heavy ions moving at relativistic velocities and atoms. By structure ions are meant partly stripped ions consisting of an ion nucleus and a number of bound electrons which partly compensate the core charge and form the electron “coat” of the ion. The single ionization cross section of hydrogen atom and single and double ionization cross sections of helium atom are calculated. It is demonstrated that the inclusion of the extent of ion charge may bring about a marked variation of the respective cross sections compared to ionization by point ions of the same charge and energy.