Stopping of very heavy ions in Mylar

TL;DR

This paper compares experimental and model calculations of Mylar stopping powers for heavy ions at low energies, proposing a new parameterization and highlighting the importance of nuclear stopping in range estimates for practical applications.

Contribution

It introduces a new model parameterization for Mylar stopping powers and analyzes the critical role of nuclear stopping in range calculations for very heavy ions.

Findings

Significant deviations in stopping power calculations for fission fragments and lighter heavy ions below 1 MeV/nucleon.

Range estimates are highly sensitive to electronic and nuclear stopping components.

A new model parameterization improves the accuracy of stopping power predictions.

Abstract

Available experimental data on Mylar stopping powers (SPs) for heavy ions (HIs) at energies 0.04 < E/A < 15 MeV/nucleon have been compared to different semi-empirical model calculations with the aim of their possible usage for the estimates of ranges for very heavy ions at E/A < 0.5 MeV/nucleon, which are of practical interest. Significant deviations from the calculated SP values were found for fission fragments and lighter HIs at E/A < 1 MeV/nucleon. A new model parameterization for Mylar SP has been proposed. Range estimates obtained with any SP model calculation show a critical dependence of their mean values on the approximated electronic stopping powers and the nuclear (collisional) SP component. The last plays a crucial role at the end of the range and could only be obtained by calculations. Practical applicability of the results of investigation for very heavy evaporation residues (products of complete fusion reactions induced by HIs) implies the use of a thick catcher foil corresponding to the largest ranges derived in the estimates or the range measurements for these products.