Electron-impact ionization of highly charged ions in lowest-order QED theory

Abstract

The electron-impact ionization cross section for highly charged ions is calculated as a triple partial-wave expansion of scattering amplitudes obtained from lowest-order QED theory. The interaction between electrons includes static, magnetic, and retardation effects. The target atomic ion is described by a Dirac-Fock approximation and the radial partial waves are computed in relativistic distorted-wave potentials. The QED cross-section results for ${\mathrm{U}}^{91+}$ and ${\mathrm{U}}^{90+}$ are compared with nonrelativistic and relativistic theories as well as a recent heavy-ion channeling experiment.