Electron-impact ionization of ions

Electron-impact ionization theory and experiment is reviewed. Possible ionization mechanisms--knock-on ionization, excitation-autoionization, and inner-shell ionization-Auger emission are studied. Theoretical approaches--the Thompson theory, the exchange-classical impact-parameter method (ECIP), quantum calculations, Coulomb Born approximation, are reviewed. Experimental techniques are then studied. The plasma spectroscopy method, based on intensity measurements of spectral emission of transient plasma; the trapped ion method, based on ionization of ions held in a trap and bombarded; and the cross beam method, where collimated beam of ions is bombarded by electron beam, are all detailed. Experimental results, deriving measurements of cross-sections, are given for various singly charged ions and multiply charged ions. Multiple ionization by electron-impact, its two possible mechanisms, and experiments in singly and multiply charged ions, concludes the study