  We present a comprehensive theoretical study of the ionization potentials of
the MF (M= Ca, Sr, Ba) molecules using the state-of-the-art relativistic
coupled cluster approach with single, double, and perturbative triple
excitations (CCSD(T)). We have further corrected our results for the higher
order excitations (up to full triples) and the QED self energy and vacuum
polarisation contributions. We have performed an extensive investigation of the
effect of the various computational parameters on the calculated ionisation
potentials, which allowed us to assign realistic uncertainties on our
predictions. For CaF and BaF, where precise experiments are available, our
predictions are in excellent agreement with the measured values. In case of
SrF, we provide a new accurate prediction of the ionisation potential that
deviates from the available experimental data, motivating further experimental
investigations.
