Electron-impact single ionization of atomic ions in the Ga isonuclear sequence - art. no. 032709

Theoretical distorted-wave calculations and experimental crossed-beam measu rements are carried out for the electron-impact ionization of atomic ions i n the Ga isonuclear sequence. For Ga+ and Ga2+ the indirect process of 3d s ubshell excitation followed by autoionization is calculated to make a signi ficant contribution to the total ionization cross section near threshold. F or Ga3+, Ga4+, and Ga5+ the total ionization cross section is calculated to be dominated by direct ionization of the 3d subshell. For Ga6+, Ga7+, Ga8, and Ga9+ the indirect process of 3p subshell excitation followed by autoi onization is calculated to make a sizable contribution to the total ionizat ion cross section. The distorted-wave predictions for the Ga ions are gener ally confirmed by the reasonable agreement found between theory and experim ent along the isonuclear sequence.