Calculation of electron-impact total-ionization cross sections

A computationally efficient analytic form of the Born-approximation electron-impact ionization amplitude is derived for general neutral-atom targets. High-quality Hartree-Fock Slater orbitals are used to model the target wave function. Full orthogonalization of the continuum Coulomb wave to all occupied orbitals of the target atom is enforced. Results are presented for noble gases (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe), selected transition metals (Fe, Cu, and Ag), and elements from the fourth, fifth, and sixth columns of the periodic table (Si, Ge, Sn, P, As, Sb, S, Se, and Te), where theoretical comparisons are lacking. Full orthogonalization significantly improves agreement with experimental data for the noble-gas series compared to previous Born models. Overall agreement with all elements is uniformly good and variations within each series are systematic.