Energy losses from fast structured heavy ions in multiple collisions with molecules and nanoparticles

A nonperturbative method is developed to calculate the energy losses from fast, highly charged, heavy ions in collisions with complex molecules and nanoparticles. All possible processes of excitation and ionization of both projectile and target are taken into account. The contributions to energy losses due to multiple collisions are calculated, and the effect of target orientation with respect to the direction of projectile motion is examined. As examples, the energy losses in collisions with the XeF₄ molecule and a C₃₀₀ nanotube are determined. It is shown that the effect of multiple collisions leads to significant change in energy loss with target orientation, being insignificant for randomly oriented targets.