Nuclear Coulomb, energy-loss and relativistic effects in proton- and deuteron-induced K-shell ionisation

Abstract

Deuteron- and proton-induced cross sections and cross section ratios for In, Sb and Ce in the incident energy range 0.3 to 1 MeV/amu obtained from thin target measurements are presented. The experimental values are discussed in the light of theoretical calculations; in particular, arguments are advanced to justify that the measured cross section ratios may be taken as direct experimental information on the Coulomb retardation and energy-loss effects. Absolute cross section values may then be used to gain information on the relativistic effect at low incident energies. It is concluded that the cross sections calculated according to the procedures recently proposed by Brandt and Lapicki that include the energy-loss effect are in good agreement with the experimental data for values of the reduced velocity ζ rb > 0.3; below this value, the agreement worsens as the reduced velocity decreases both for the absolute cross sections and for the cross section ratios.