K-shell ionization of Al, V, Fe, Cu, Y, Mo, Ag, and Sn by 1-5-MeV alpha-particle bombardment

Absolute cross sections have been measured for the $K$ -shell ionization of Al, V, Fe, Cu, Y, Mo, Ag, and Sn by $\alpha$-particle bombardment over the 1-5-MeV energy range. Characteristic x-ray radiation produced by the ion impact was detected by a cooled Si(Li) detector. Experimental results are compared with ionization cross sections calculated using the plane-wave Born approximation, the semiclassical approach, and the binary-encounter approximation (BEA). The present results agree most favorably with the BEA calculations. Comparisons of cross sections obtained from separate thick- and thin-target measurements show excellent agreement.