Evaluation of multielectron ionization cross-sections in energetic ion-atom collisions

The use of heavy ion beams with mass of order 100 atomic mass units and energy of order 10 MeV per nucleon has been proposed as a driver for heavy ion fusion. Multi-electron-loss collisions of the beam ions with the background gas atoms result in an increase in the ion charge, which is an unwanted effect for beam propagation through the accelerator and transport regions, and the target chamber. Knowledge of the electron-loss cross-sections is essential to understand and address this issue. This paper describes the theoretical methods employed for calculation of the cross-sections.