K-SHELL IONIZATION IN HEAVY-ION COLLISIONS AT RELATIVISTIC ENERGIES

A relativistic distorted wave model is formulated to describe the ionisation of K-shell electrons in a target atom produced by the impact of a bare ion at relativistic energies. The model introduces the continuum of the projectile in the entry and exit channels in order to satisfy the asymptotic Coulomb boundary conditions. Cross sections, differential in the angle of the ejected electron and in its energy, are calculated. They show a binary peak and the cusp of the capture to the continuum. Total cross sections are compared with experimental values.