K-shell ionization of high Z elements with low to intermediate velocity Si ions

We report here the measurement of the absolute cross-sections for the K-shell ionization of high atomic number elements (Au and Bi) induced by low to intermediate velocity Si ions. The relativistic wavefunction effects on the ionization cross-sections have been studied by comparing the measured data with different theoretical calculations with and without including the relativistic corrections. The relativistic effect on the K-ionization cross-section is found to depend on the projectile atomic number and velocity