Electron Loss in Heavy-Body Collisions

A simple theory based on a free scattering model and the Born approximation is used to describe the loss of electrons from an atomic system during high-energy impact with another atomic system. Calculations for electron loss by atomic hydrogen incident on helium, atomic nitrogen, and argon agree well with the Born approximation and the high-energy experimental data. At high energies the cross sections decrease as $a{E}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, where $E$ is the laboratory system energy, and for atomic hydrogen projectiles, $a$ has the values 1.6 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ eV, 1.3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ eV, and 4.7 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ eV for targets of helium, atomic nitrogen, and argon, respectively.