Recoil effects on the impact-parameter dependence of x-ray production in heavy-ion collisions

Inner-shell vacancy production in the target recoil interaction can distort the observed impact-parameter dependence of x-ray production in heavy-ion collisions when measured in thin-foil targets. Approximate expressions are presented for the energy and scattering-angle dependence of the recoil contribution. A numerical example is given for Al $K$— x-ray production in Al foils. The recoil correction is estimated for $L$— x-ray production in I + Te collisions and compared with the data of Stein et al.; the unexpected rise in the probability they observed at small impact parameters could possibly be accounted for by this mechanism.