1 ssigma ionization in high-energy collisions of very heavy ions

The production of completely empty K-shells is predicted for Pb + U collisions with Esub(lab) approx. >= 200 MeV/u. This is a necessary condition for the formation of naked heavy nuclei. Within the quasimolecular basis the electron excitation has been calculated including the radial and rotational coupling as well as the magnetic interaction induced by the heavy-ion current. The spin polarization of the created K-vacancies was found to be typically of the order of 10-20%. (orig.)