Inner-Shell Vacancy Production in Ion-Atom Collisions

TLDR

The review covers theoretical and experimental studies of inner‑shell vacancy production in ion‑atom collisions, noting that light‑ion excitation is well modeled while heavy‑ion data lack a comprehensive theory, with literature surveyed up to April 1972. The study aims to correlate various experimental data with existing theoretical models of inner‑shell vacancy production. The review discusses experimental total excitation cross sections, electron and x‑ray emission spectra, and energy‑loss data from heavy‑ion inelastic scattering experiments.

Abstract

Theoretical and experimental work relevant to the creation of atomic inner-shell vacancies in collisions of ions and atoms is reviewed. The experimental data on total excitation cross sections and electron and x-ray emission spectra are discussed in some detail. Energy loss data from inelastic scattering experiments involving heavy ions are also reviewed. An attempt is made to relate the different kinds of data to one another and to the available theoretical models. Excitation by the light ions (protons, alpha particles) has been well described theoretically in terms of perturbation by an incident point charge. However, no comprehensive model yet exists for the case of incident heavier ions, although the heavy-ion data for low collision velocities support an interpretation based on the formation of a transient quasimolecule. The literature has been reviewed to about April 1972.