The energy loss of alpha particles traversing a hydrogen plasma

The energy loss of alpha particles traversing a plasma is enhanced compared to a gas target of the same particle density due to the higher stopping power of the free plasma electrons. This has been investigated by determining the energy loss of alpha particles (4.5–9MeV) in a dense z-pinch plasma (ne∼1018cm−3) by a time-of-flight measurement. A decreasing of the energy loss with increasing particle energy in agreement with the theory is shown.