Inner-Shell Vacancy Production in Ion-Atom Collisions

Theoretical and experimental work relevant to the creation of atomic inner-shell vacancies in collisions of ions and atoms is reviewed. The experimental data on total excitation cross sections and electron and x-ray emission spectra are discussed in some detail. Energy loss data from inelastic scattering experiments involving heavy ions are also reviewed. An attempt is made to relate the different kinds of data to one another and to the available theoretical models. Excitation by the light ions (protons, alpha particles) has been well described theoretically in terms of perturbation by an incident point charge. However, no comprehensive model yet exists for the case of incident heavier ions, although the heavy-ion data for low collision velocities support an interpretation based on the formation of a transient quasimolecule. The literature has been reviewed to about April 1972.