K-shell ionization cross sections of atoms by muons and pions

Abstract

The K-shell ionization cross sections of copper and silver atoms by muons and pions with negative and positive charge have been calculated with the classical trajectory Monte Carlo method and the plane-wave Born approximation with corrections for the Coulomb-deflection and binding-energy effects. Both results are in good agreement with each other. The obtained cross sections for muons on copper are also compared with the coupled-channels calculations. The dependence of the K-shell ionization cross sections on the sign of the projectile as well as on the projectile mass is discussed.Graphical abstract