Multiple scattering corrections to energy loss measurements for slow ions

Abstract

Based on the multiple scattering theory suggested by Sigmund and Winterbon, the multiple scattering corrections to energy loss measurements, δE ms, have been evaluated for slow charged particles. Numerical results for 0.01–1.0 MeV alpha particles in hydrogen and oxygen and for circular detectors with angles of acceptance, ν, 0.05 ⩽ ν⩽0.3, and for energy losses of up to 80% of the incident energy are presented. δE ms is trivial for small energy losses and small detector acceptance angles (<1.0%), nevertheless it can amount to a few percent when the energy losses in the absorber and/or the detector acceptance angles are large. The dependence of δE ms on the projectile atomic numbers and the absorber atomic numbers, and the extension of the present calculation to water, are briefly discussed. Also calculated are the percentage of alpha particles scattered in N and Ni beyond the detector angle.