Charge state effect on the K-shell ionization of iron by xenon ions near the Bohr velocity

Abstract

Fe K-shell ionization cross sections induced by 2.4–6.0 MeV Xe20+ are measured and compared with different binary-encounter-approximation (BEA) models. The results indicate that the BEA model corrected both by the Coulomb repulsion and by the effective nuclear charge (Zeff) agrees well with the experimental data. Comparison of Fe K-shell X-ray emission induced by 5 MeV xenon ions with different initial charge states (20+, 22+, 26+, 30+) verifies the applicability of the effective nuclear charge (Zeff) correction for the BEA model. It is found that Zeff correction is reasonable to describe direct ionization induced by xenon ions with no initial M-shell vacancies. However, when the M shell is opened, the Zeff corrected BEA model is unable to explain the inner-shell ionization, and the electron transfer by molecular-orbital promotion should be considered.