K-shell ionisation in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Abstract

For relativistic heavy-ion collisions K-shell ionisation probabilities are calculated in the semiclassical approximation (SCA) and first-order perturbation theory. Most of the results are obtained for a uranium target and show the increasing importance of the spin-dependent interaction potential for relativistic relative velocities nu /c>0.5. Interesting structures arising in certain partial differential ionisation probabilities are discussed.