Charge-changing processes involving fast low-charged ions

The beam lifetimes and the charge-changing cross sections for fast many-electron systems, Mg1+, Ar2+, Pb29+, U4+, U10+ and U28+, were calculated in the energy range of 1–500 MeV/u and compared with experimental data recently obtained at SIS GSI. An agreement of the calculations with experimental data within a factor of 3 was obtained. It was found that the heavy components of the residual gas (N2 and Ar) play a key role in the projectile charge-changing processes in the energy range considered.