Electron Loss in MeV/U Collisions Between Many-Electron Projectiles and Targets

Ionization cross-sections have been measured for MeV/u, low-charge-state, heavy ions colliding with many-electron targets. Single and multiple electron removal from the projectile are compared for these low-charge-state ions with similar data obtained using more highly charged projectiles. It is shown that although there are large differences in magnitudes and behavior as a function of incoming charge state between the low and high charge state data, strong similarities exist when the charge state fractions are plotted as a function of the number and type of outermost subshell electrons