Deuteron- and alpha-particle-induced K-shell ionisation of W and Au atoms

Deuteron- and alpha-particle-induced K-shell ionisation cross sections for W and Au were obtained from thick target measurements for low impact velocities. They were compared with proton-induced cross sections in the same range of velocities. Equal velocity cross section ratios are a very stringent test of the corrections incorporated in the PWBA calculations. The sigma _d/ sigma _p data presented in this paper shed some light on the Coulomb deflection corrections discussed in the literature. The consequences of the inelastic character of the ionisation process are thoroughly examined.