Ionization-excitation of lithium by fast charged projectiles

Cross sections for the double K-shell vacancy production of lithium atoms in collision with fast charged projectiles are calculated. For these ionization-excitation processes, the relative importance of the different first- and second-order mechanisms and the dependence of the cross sections on the sign of projectile charge are investigated. Our studies confirm the strong influence of electron-electron correlations on the behaviour of the cross sections. The obtained results are in reasonable agreement with the data as observed in recent experiments.