Electron impact ionization cross sections of beryllium and beryllium hydrides

Abstract

We report calculated electron impact ionization cross sections (EICSs) for beryllium (Be) and some of its hydrides from the ionization threshold to 1 keV using the Deutsch-Mark (DM) and the Binary-Encounter-Bethe (BEB) formalisms. The positions of the maxima of the DM and BEB cross sections are very close in each case while the DM cross section values at the maxima are consistently higher. Our calculations for Be are in qualitative agreement with results from earlier calculations (convergent close-coupling, R matrix, distorted-wave and plane-wave Born approximation) in the low energy region. For the various beryllium hydrides, we know of no other available data. The maximum cross section values for the various compounds range from 4.0 × 10−16 to 9.4 × 10−16 cm2 at energies of 44 to 56 eV for the DM cross sections and 3.0 × 10−16 to 5.4 × 10−16 cm2 at energies of 40.5 to 60 eV for the BEB cross sections.