Geometrical model approximation for ionization cross sections of atoms and ions in ion-atom collisions

Abstract

The applicability of the geometrical model (GM) proposed in [14, 15] to calculate the ionization probability and cross section of atoms and ions during collisions with ions, including structural ions, was studied at high velocities of partners. The GM represents a version of the classical impulse approximation. It was shown that the GM in all cases under consideration allows estimation of the ionization probability and total corss section of an atom or an ion during collisions with ions with deviations of no more than 50% from the results of the classical Monte Carlo method. GM calculations are rather simple in computation respect and limit the ionization probability by unity at arbitrary impact parameters.