Double ionization of atomic helium under heavy ion impact

Abstract

Cross sections for double ionization of helium by multiply-charged ion impact and the corresponding ratios of double-to-single ionization are presented as a sum of the contributions given by the one-step (shake-off) and two-step (TS) processes. An analytic form is found for the continuum wavefunction which is valid in both limiting cases of low and high velocities of the relative motion. Using this wavefunction, the TS cross sections are calculated within the independent-event model. The results for the ratios of double-to-single ionization show satisfactory agreement with the experimental data available.