Inner-shell electron-impact ionization of neutral atoms

A study of inner-shell electron-impact ionization of heavy neutral atoms is presented. A relativistic distorted-wave method is used to calculate K-shell ionization of neutral Mn, Fe, Ni, and Cu, and also the L-shell ionization of neutral W. These calculations are compared with measurements made by electron-impact ionization from a thin target of the atomic species in question. Good agreement is found between the calculations and measurements.