Interaction of 3.9-Gev Nitrogen Ions with Matter

Abstract

The interaction with matter of nitrogen ions in the 3.9-billion-electron-volt (Gev) beam of the Princeton Particle Accelerator has been studied. In polyethylene, the range of ions is 12.6 ± 0.2 grams per square centimeter and the mean free path for nuclear collisions is 15.4 ± 3.8 centimeters; the loss of energy by the ions passing through polyethylene agrees with that predicted by stopping-power theory. The production of secondary particles has been investigated. These data are useful for experiments and for evaluating the merits of nitrogen ions in biomedical application.