B . T .

KHAI

1st report (14/10/23)

1. Some definitions
1.1. Cross section: It stands for the probability of interaction of two particles.
The differential cross section is defined as:

d
1 dN s
( E, )
d
F d

Flux (F)

(1.1)

where F: the flux of incident particles,

target

dN s

unit
area

: average particles scattering into d

per unit of time

In real situation, because target is a slab containing elements, the calculation is different. With assumption
of a uniform distribution, we can have the average number scattered into d:

N s () F A N x

d
d

(1.2)

N x is the number of elements can be seen by the beam, with N is the density of elements and x is the
thickness of material.
F A is the number of incident particles can see the target, with F is the flux of incident particles and A is
the area of target.
1.2. Interaction Probability in a Distance x. Mean Free Path.
This section can answer the question for the probability of interaction of a particle traveling in material in
general case. We set P(x) as the probability of not having an interaction after a distance x, and w.dx as the
probability of having an interaction from x to x + dx.
Thus, the probability of not having an interaction from x to x + dx is: P( x dx) P( x)(1 wdx)
From this, we can calculate the probability of not having interaction:

P( x)

dP( x)
dx P( x) wP( x)dx
dx

dP( x)
w.dx
P( x)

(1.4)

dP( x)
wP( x)
dx

P ( x) exp(wx)

(1.6)

(1.5)

(1.7)

(1.3)

B . T . KHAI

1st report (14/10/23)

Mean free path: the mean distance the particle travels without interaction. It can be defined by:

xP( x)dx 1
P( x)dx w

. (1.8)

Since the mean free path must be related with to the density of the target and the cross section, thus,
these equations below will describe these relations.
From equation (1.2), the probability of one interaction in a small distance x is: Pint N x .
From (1.7)

and (1.8), the probability of

one

interaction in small

distance

x is:

x x
Pint 1 1 ...

From this, we have: 1/ N and P( x) exp(wx) exp( x / ) exp( N x)

2. Energy loss of charged particle
2.1. Calculate the energy loss in classical case (Bohrs calculation)
A heavy particle with mass M, charge ze, and velocity v is
passing a material medium. Assume that there is an atomic
electron at a distance b. The momentum that the electron
gets in colliding with the particle is:

I F dt eE dt e E
From the Gauss Law, we have:

Thus, I=

2 b dx 4 ze E dx

2 ze
b

dt
dx
dx e E
dx
v

(2.1)

(2.2)

2ze2
I2
2 z 2e4

(2.3). And the energy gained by electron is: E (b)

(2.4).
bv
2me me v2b2

The energy of electrons at the distance from b to b+db with thickness dx: dE (b) E (b) Ne dV .
With Ne is the density of electrons of material, and dV = 2b db dx,

dE (b)

2 z 2 e4
4 z 2e4
db
dE (b) 4 z 2e4
db
(2.5)
N
2

b
db
dx

N
dx

Ne
e
e
2 2
2
2
me v b
me v
b
dx
me v
b

Since those calculation above can be meaningless if we integrate (2.5) with value of b from 0 to infinity
(with b = 0, the left side of (2.5) will be infinitive), we have to calculate two limit values: bmin and bmax.

b
dE (b) 4 z 2e4

Ne ln max
Integrate equation (2.5) with limits of b:
2
dx
me v
bmin

(2.6).

B . T . KHAI

1st report (14/10/23)

We can calculate bmin by considering the head-on collision of incident particle and electron. In case of
head-on collision, the velocity of electron is: ve
is

2M
v 2v , and the kinetic energy obtained
( M me )

1
me (2v)2 2me v 2 . Take relativitys factor v / c and (1 )1/2 into account, we have:
2

2 z 2e4
z 2 e4
ze2
2

2
m

e
min
2
me v 2bmin
me2 2 v4 me v2

(2.7)

We calculate the bmax with consideration of orbital frequency . For the collision happens, the time for
collision must be less than or equal to the period 1/ . Time for collision is: t b / ( v) .

b
1
v
v
b
bmax
v

(2.8)

From (2.6), (2.7) and (2.8), we can have the Bohrs calculation for loss energy of charged particle:

dE (b) 4 z 2e4
2 mv3

N
ln
e
dx
me v2
ze2

(2.9)

2.2. The Bethe-Bloch Formula

The Bethe-Bloch Formula with corrections:

dE
Z z 2 2me 2 v2Wmax
C
2
2
2

2 N a re me c
ln

dx
A 2
I2
Z

re: classical electron radius

z: charge of incident particle

me: electron mass

: v/c of incident particle

Na: Avogadros number

: 1/ 1 2

I: mean excitation potential

(2.10)

: density correction

Z: atomic number of target

C: shell correction
A: atomic weight of target
Wmax: maximum energy transfer in one
collision

: density of target

The density correction: As we can see in equation (2.8), with the increase of velocity (increase
of energy) the bmax will become larger. Therefore, incident particle can lose energy by interactions with
more atomic electrons. This correction factor is important in case of high energy particle. Moreover,
particle will more easily lose energy for higher density material.
The shell correction: In case of the velocity of particle is close to the orbital velocity of
electron, the assumption at beginning about the stationary of electron (of Bohrs Calculation and BetheBloch Formular) breaks down. Because of this reason, in low energy region, the Bethe-Bloch Formula
is not correct anymore, thus, we need a correction. This correction factor does not affect too much in
the high energy region.

B . T . KHAI

1st report (14/10/23)

Understanding the Bethe-Bloch Formula:

~ 3-4 (v ~ 0.96c)
~ 1/2

Relativistic region

The minimum ionization energy is usually at velocity v ~ 0.96c, or ~ 3-4.

Below this ionization energy, the dE/dx is proportional to the 1/2 factor. In this region, the dE/dx curve
is distinct from other particle types.
In the region of energy larger than minimum ionization energy, the 1/2 factor is almost constant, and
the dE/dx rises in this region because of the logarithmic dependence, in equation (2.10). However, this
rise is canceled because the account of density correction.