Energy losses by slow ions and atoms to electronic excitation in solids

Abstract

We consider the theory of energy losses by slow ions and atoms to electronic excitations in an electron gas. Predictions of the theory are compared with experimental data on ion penetration in several different solids. We also compare the stopping power obtained from linear-response theory with that found from numerically computed phase shifts for electron scattering on the screened potential of an ion. The stopping power of an electron gas for slow, singly ionized He atoms is calculated from linear-response theory, using a wave function for the bound electron determined self-consistently in the electron gas.