Fast electron production in collisions of swift heavy ions (20 MeV/u<E<100 MeV/u) with foils of solids

In nuclear and atomic experiments at high incident ion energies, 20 MeV/u < E < 100 MeV/u, the impact of swift heavy ions on thin solid targets is a source of fast electrons. The knowledge of their spatial and kinematical distributions is very useful for experimental nuclear and radiobiological applications as well as testing atomic ionization theories. An overview on the main mechanisms underlying the production of the electrons is given. Some recent results obtained at the Catania LNS superconducting cyclotron, mainly with a 45 MeV/u Ni-58(19+) beam are shown. In particular, the production and the properties of binary encounter-, convoy-, in-flight Auger- and backward emitted electrons are discussed. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.