Electron Impact Inner-Shell Ionization of Atoms

Electron impact inner-shell ionization cross-section (EIICS) calculations of neutral atoms with atomic numbers Z = 6–92 for K-shell, Z = 18–92 for L-shell, and Z = 79–92 for M-shell have been reviewed. In this work, the evaluations of the EIICS are discussed using our recently propounded easy-to-use models that are found adequately successful in describing the experimental cross sections. The selection of the range of atomic number Z for different inner-shells was guided by the availability of the EIICS data either from experiments or from rigorous quantal calculations. Details of the models have been presented and their findings are compared with the experimental and other theoretical results. Our models describe the experimental results nicely for K-, L-, and M-shell ionization for Z ≤ 92 in the energy range E ≤ 2 GeV.