Electron-impact ionization cross-sections and ionization rate coefficients for atoms and ions from hydrogen to calcium

Using the empirical formula recently proposed, electron-impact ionization cross-sections for single ionization from the ground state are given for free atoms and for all ionization stages from hydrogen to calcium (Z=20). Ionization rate coefficients are given for these species on the assumption of a Maxwellian distribution of the impacting electrons. Multiple ionization, lowering of ionization potential, or collision limit are not taken into account.     

Electron-impact ionization cross-sections for atoms up to Z=108

Using the formula recently proposed, electron-impact ionization cross-sections for single ionization from the ground state of free atoms up toZ=108 are given for energies of the impact electron between threshold and 1 keV. The probable error is estimated to be approximately \(_{ - 30}^{ + 40} \% \) , but near threshold the error is larger and no fine structures are accounted for.     

Excitation-autoionization cross-sections and rate coefficients for Ge-like ions

Results of cross-section and rate coefficient calculations for electron impact direct and indirect ionization of ions belonging to the GeI isoelectronic sequence (ground 3d104s24p2) are presented. The cross-sections are given at near threshold energies for the five ions Kr4+, Mo10+, Xe22+, Pr27+ and Dy34+. The rate coefficients are computed for all the ions from Kr4+ to U60+ in the GeI sequence at seven electron temperatures (kTe = 0.1EI, 0.3EI, 0.5EI, 0.7EI, EI, 2EI and 10EI, where EI is the first ionization energy). The calculations include the contribution of direct ionization (DI) calculated with the Lotz formula approximation and the contributions of excitation-autoionization (EA) calculated in the framework of the distorted wave (DW) approximation for the 4s-nl, 3d-nl and 3p-nl resonant inner-shell excitations. The ionization enhancement due to the EA channels is shown as a function of Z along the GeI isoelectronic sequence.     

Modified Kolbensvedt model for the electron impact K-shell ionization cross-sections of atoms and ions

A modification of the Kolbensvedt model, MKLV, in terms of ionic, correlation (between the incident and target electrons) and relativistic corrections, is proposed to calculate the K-shell electron impact ionization cross-sections of neutral and ionic targets. The modified model, with a single set of parameters, is found to reproduce satisfactorily the experimental data for the neutral H, Al, Ar, Mn, Ge, Mo, Ag, Sn, Au, Bi and U and ionic Li⁺, B⁴⁺ and O⁷⁺ targets better than the existing empirical models from threshold energies to as high as 10⁴ MeV. For the Ag target, the calculations from MKLV follow closely the results of Scofield, and for Au, those of Scofield, and Ndefru and Malik, both done in the relativistic Born approximation with the M?ller interaction, at energies higher than the peak region.     

Electron-impact ionization cross section calculations for lithium-like ions

The electron-impact ionization of lithium-like ions C³⁺,N⁴⁺,O⁵⁺,Ne⁷⁺,and Fe2³⁺is studied using a combination of two-potential distorted-wave and R-matrix methods with a relativistic correction.Total cross sections are computed for incident energies from 1 to 10 times of ionization energy and better agreements with the experimental results are obtained in comparison with the theoretical data available.It is found that the indirect ionization processes become significant for the incident energy larger than about four times of the ionization energy.Contributions from the exchange effects along the isoelectronic sequence are also discussed and found to be important.The present method can be used to obtain systematic ionization cross sections for highly charged ions across a wide incident energy range.     

Asymptotic coefficients for atoms and ions

We derive convenient analytical formulas in the effective-range approximation for the asymptotic coefficient C _κ of the radial wave function at infinity and for the average radius of the system. A comparison with the results of numerical calculations (done by the Hartree-Fock method) for multi-electron atoms and ions reveals that this approximation has good accuracy for valence s-electrons in all atoms from hydrogen to uranium. We calculate the values of the scattering lengths and the effective ranges for electron-atom and electron-ion scattering. We also examine the quasiclassical approximation for C _κ. Finally, we discuss the logarithmic increase in the effective ranges of ns states as n→∞. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 521–541 (February 1999)     

Electron-impact ionization cross sections and rates for ions of argon

A distorted-wave Born exchange (DWBE) approximation including relativistic correction is used to calculate the electron-impact ionization cross sections and rate coefficients for the highly charged ions Ar⁷⁺,…,Ar¹⁷⁺. The comparison of the calculated results with the experimental data and other theoretical calculations shows that the DWBE method is valid for these ions of argon. The calculated results for direct ionization cross sections and excitation autoionization were fitted by empirical formulas to meet the requirements of applications. A set of improved empirical formulas are used for the fast and accurate calculations of rate coefficients from the fit parameters of cross sections.     

Dielectronic recombination rate coefficients for hydrogen-like ions

We present rate coefficients for dielectronic recombination for 9 hydrogen-like ions ranging from Ne⁹⁺ to Xe⁵³⁺. In this work, relativistic multi-configuration wavefunctions are used to calculate energy levels as well as the Auger and radiative matrix elements. Results are compared with recent calculations for ions in the helium-like sequence.     

K-shell ionization of atoms and ions by relativistic projectiles

We evaluate the total cross section for the single K-shell ionization of atoms and ions by the impact of relativistic electrons. The study is performed to leading orders of the QED perturbation theory with respect to the parameters αZ and 1/Z. The results obtained are in good agreement with experimental data for different atomic targets. In the case of moderate values of the nuclear charge Z, the total cross section is described by a simple analytic formula. The K-shell ionization by relativistic heavy particles is also considered.     

Excitation-autoionization cross sections and rate coefficients for Ga-like ions

Detailed level-by-level calculations of cross sections and rate coefficients for electron impact direct and indirect ionization of ions belonging to the GaI isoelectronic sequence (ground 3d ¹⁰4s ²4p) have been performed. The cross sections are presented in the energy range near the threshold for the five ions Kr⁵⁺, Mo¹¹⁺, Xe²³⁺, Pr²⁸⁺ and Dy³⁵⁺. The rate coefficients are given for ions from Kr⁵⁺ to U⁶¹⁺ in the GaI sequence at seven electron temperatures (kT _e = 0.1E _I , 0.3E _I , 0.5E _I , 0.7E _I ,E _I , 2E _I and 10E _I , where E _I is the first ionization energy). The calculations include the contribution of direct ionization (DI) calculated using the Lotz formula approximation and the contributions of excitation-autoionization (EA) computed in the framework of the distorted wave (DW) approximation for the 4s-nl, 3d-nl and 3p-nl resonant inner-shell excitations. The ionization enhancement due to the EA channels is presented as a function of Z along the GaI isoelectronic sequence. The present results show the great importance of the EA processes; an ionization enhancement factor of up to 10 is predicted for instance for La²⁶⁺ (Z = 57) at electron temperature of coronal equilibrium maximum abundance.     

Calculation of triple differential cross-sections ofK-shell ionization of medium-heavy atoms by electrons for symmetric geometry

Triple differential cross-section forK-shell ionization of medium-heavy atoms by relativistic electrons has been calculated for coplanar symmetric geometry. In this calculation the final state is described by a non-relativistic wave function of Das and Seal [Phys. Rev. A47 (1993) 2978] multiplied with suitable spinors. Results of the present calculation are compared with the available experimental data and with other theoretical calculations.     

Multiphoton ionization of atoms and ions by high-intensity X-ray lasers

Coulomb corrections to the action function and rate of multiphoton ionization of atoms and ions in a strong linearly polarized electromagnetic field are calculated for high values of the Keldysh adiabaticity parameter. The Coulomb corrections significantly increase the ionization rate for atoms (by several orders of magnitude). An interpolation formula proposed for ionization rate is valid for arbitrary values of the adiabaticity parameter. The high accuracy of the formula is confirmed by comparison with the results of numerical calculations. The general case of elliptic polarization of laser radiation is also considered.     

Electron impact excitation rate coefficients for hydrogen,helium and alkali atoms

The rates of electron impact excitation of bound electronic states are calculated by interpolating the existing quantum-mechanical theories and applying an empirical correction. The calculation is done for hydrogen, helium, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium. The resulting rate coefficients are expressed by two parameters, the values of which are presented in tables. The error of the present calculation is estimated by comparing with available experimental data to be within a factor of approximately 2.     

Resonances at slow electron collisions with zinc atoms and ions

The optical excitation functions of four spectral lines corresponding to the transitions from the 4¹ D ₂, 5³ S ₁, 4³ D _j, and 6¹ S ₀ levels of atomic Zn were investigated with an electron spectrometer of a new construction. For the first time, elastic scattering of slow electrons from the Zn ions at an angle close to 180° was studied. In the energy range under investigation (0–7 eV), both the optical excitation functions of atomic spectral lines and the differential cross section of elastic scattering manifested the resonant structure caused by the contribution of autoionization states of the atom.     

Electron-impact ionization and dissociative ionization of sulfur in the gas phase

We describe the methods and the results of investigation of the yield of positive ions formed as a result of electron-impact ionization of sulfur. The ionization energy for the basic molecule and the energies corresponding to the emergence of fragment ions are obtained from the ionization efficiency curves. The dynamics of formation of molecular sulfur ions in the temperature range 320–700 K is investigated. The energy dependences of efficiency S _n of the ion formation for n = 1–6 are analyzed, and their appearance energies are determined. The total cross section of sulfur ionization by a monochromatic electron beam is also investigated. Using the linear approximation method, we marked out features on the ionization function curve, which correspond to the ionization and excitation energies for multiply charged ions. The total cross section of the formation of negative sulfur ions is measured in the energy range 0–9 eV.     

Electron impact ionization rate coefficients and cross sections for highly ionized iron

Electron impact ionization cross sections for the ions Fe(XVII)-(XXVI) have been computed in a distorted wave exchange approximation. Analytic fits are provided for the cross section data, as well as for the rate coefficients assuming a Maxwellian electron velocity distribution. For ejection of a 2p ground state electron, the scaled ionization rate was found to depend linearly on the number of 2p electrons in the ion.     

Binary encounter approximation for the electron-impact double ionization cross section of atoms and ions

An binary encounter approximation is formulated for the direct (without any excitation of autoionization levels) double ionization of atoms and ions by electron impacts. Analytical expressions are derived for the cross section, which qualitatively represent the main dependences on the incident electron energy and atomic parameters.