Electron loss from 0.74- and 1.4-MeV/u low-charge-state argon and xenon ions colliding with neon, nitrogen, and argon

Absolute total-, single-, and multiple-electron-loss cross sections are measured for (Ar{sup +}-, Ar{sup 2+}-, Xe{sup 3+})-(Ne, N{sub 2}, Ar) collisions at 0.74 and 1.4 MeV/u. In addition, a many-body classical trajectory Monte Carlo model was used to calculate total- and multiple-electron-loss cross sections for Ar{sup +} impact. For N{sub 2} and Ar targets, excellent agreement between the measured and calculated cross sections is found; for the Ne target the experimental data are approximately 40% smaller than the theoretical predictions. The experimental data are also used to examine cross-section scaling characteristics for electron loss from fast, low-charge-state, heavy ions. It is shown that multiple electron loss increased the mean charge states of the outgoing argon and xenon ions by 2 and 3 respectively. The cross sections decreased with increasing number of electrons lost and scaled roughly as the inverse of the sum of the ionization potentials required to sequentially remove the most weakly bound, next most weakly bound, etc., electrons. This scaling was found to be independent of projectile, incoming charge state, and target. In addition, the experimental total loss cross sections are found to be nearly constant as a function of initial projectile charge state. As a function of impact energy, the theoretical predictions yield an E{sup -1/3} behavior between 0.5 and 30 MeV/u for the total loss cross sections. Within error bars, the data are consistent with this energy dependence but are also consistent with an E{sup -1/2} energy dependence.