Atomic processes involving highly charged ions

Atomic processes of ionization, recombination, and electron capture in collisions of positive ions with atoms, ions, electrons, and molecules are considered. The impact of these processes on the interaction of ion beams with media in a wide range of energies—from low to super-relativistic—is discussed, focusing primarily on energies $E \sim 10$ keV–100 GeV per nucleon. The main features of the effective cross sections of the processes are described as a function of the collision energy, atomic structure, and density effects in gases, solids, and plasmas. The role of dielectronic recombination in the interaction of beams of heavy multi-electron ions with a plasma is considered in detail. The progress in experimental and theoretical studies in accelerator physics and the physics of collisions of heavy ions with atomic systems, achieved over the last five to ten years is reviewed.