Scaling law for total electron-impact ionization cross sections of Li-like ions

Abstract

Experimental total cross sections for direct electron-impact ionization of the valence electron of several Li-like ions are seen to follow a new ab initio scaling law which is inspired by a Coulomb-Born model and the frozen-core Hartree-Fock approximation. The predictive character of this scaling law should be very useful to experimentalists and can be used to complete data tables needed for plasma or astrophysical studies. A single-parameter fit of the best available experimental data, once scaled, provides us with a single formula, for moderately charged Li-like ions, which is more accurate than Lotz semiempirical formula.