Energy Dissipation by Ions in the kev Region

Abstract

At low energies ionic collisions with atoms are largely elastic. Simple theoretical approximations to scattering cross sections, ranges and straggling are derived for power potentials, showing that the scattering is peaked in the forward direction rather than isotropic. Using an approximate universal potential of Thomas-Fermi type a natural measure of range, $\rho$, and of energy, $\epsilon$, is obtained for all ions in all substances. The corresponding range-energy curve is computed.