Multiple ionization produced in Yb due to N-,Si- and Ti-ion impact

Heavy ion induced inner shell ionization produces multiple vacancies in the outer shells (M, N etc.) simultaneous to vacancies in the inner-shells (viz. L-shell), which in turn create a very complicated electronic configuration. Three projectiles N2+,3+, Si7+,8+ and Ti10+,11+ ion beams having a range of 0.3 to 3.5 MeV/u were bombarded on a thin rare earth target of Yb. The recorded L X-ray spectra of Yb have been analyzed in the light of multiple ionization produced due to the heavy ion impact. The outer-shell vacancies acting as spectator vacancies cause a shift in the energy of the various L X-ray diagram lines. A comparison of the shifts in the energies of the various L X-ray transitions of Yb due to the impact of these projectiles, from standard values and that due to proton impact along with the deviation of the intensity ratios from single hole branching ratios, reveal a dependence of multiple ionization on the projectile atomic number (Z) and energy. A further comparison of the degree of multiple ionization produced in Yb, evident by the number of spectator vacancies produced due to the impact of projectiles with 7≤Z≤22 and overlapping MeV/u range lead to explicit conclusions regarding the probability of multiple vacancy production in outer shells simultaneous to a single L-shell vacancy for such projectile target combinations. (orig.)