NUCLEAR ELASTIC SCATTERING EFFECT ON STOPPING POWER OF CHARGED PARTICLES IN HIGH-TEMPERATURE MEDIA

Abstract

By solving the Boltzmann equation, an expression is derived for the stopping power of fast ions via nuclear elastic scattering, taking into account the large-energy-transfer scattering effects. The plasma electrons and ions are considered in temperature equilibrium with the Maxwellian distribution function. Thus, by adding Coulomb stopping power, the complete treatment is obtained for stopping power of charged particles moving in a plasma. The result is used, for example, to calculate the stopping power of proton projectile moving in a deuterium–tritium plasma. These calculations show that the nuclear elastic scattering effect on stopping power of fast ions is more effective in high-temperature plasmas (T ≥ 10 keV) such as that used in thermonuclear plasmas.