Evaluations of proton inelastic mean free paths for 12 elemental solids over the energy range from 0.05 to 10 MeV

Abstract

The systematical calculations of the inelastic mean free paths (MFPs) of 0.05–10 MeV protons in 12 elemental solids (Al, Si, Ni, Cu, Mo, Rh, Ag, W, Os, Ir, Pt, Au) have been performed. The calculations are based on the algorithm derived from Ashley’s optical-data model including the higher-order corrections to stopping power (SP) for protons. The prominence and necessity of the higher-order corrections are demonstrated by calculating the proton SPs for the 12 solids using Ashley’s optical-data model and by comparing the calculated SPs with the experimental results, the tabulated values and other corresponding theoretical evaluations. The algorithm of evaluating the proton inelastic MFP is described. In this algorithm, the Barkas-effect correction and the Bloch correction are taken into account, the minimum impact parameter from Lindhard is used in the Barkas-effect correction, and an empirical estimation of a free parameter involved in the Bloch correction to the inelastic MFP is proposed. The evaluated inelastic MFPs of 0.05–10 MeV protons for the 12 solids under two different cases, i.e. the higher-order corrections not being considered and the Barkas-effect correction and the Bloch correction being included, are presented in the tabulated form and are first results for these solids. These numerical results provide an alternative basic data for the Monte Carlo studies on low-energy proton transport in these 12 solids.