Ionization of heavy rare gas atoms by low-energy electrons

Abstract

The formalisms of the classical binary encounter approximation and Sommerfeld’squantization of electronic atomic orbits are used to derive reliable cross sections for directionization of heavy () rare gas atoms (argon, krypton, xenon, and radon) by electrons of energy lower than thatof the maximum of the ionization cross section ( eV). The derived cross sections agree well with experimental values, except for radon, forwhich no cross sections have been measured. The theoretical approach of this work can beused to calculate the cross sections for electron-impact interaction of some atoms andatomic ions other than rare gas particles.