The program StopPow -: A useful tool for computation of energy loss and range of light ions in SSNTDs

Energy loss along particle trajectories and ranges of light ions are needed for theoretical characterisation of tracks in solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). Computation of these data is possible using ion transport programs, e.g., the well-known TRIM program. Derived quantities necessary for the simulation of the track formation process can be calculated by these programs too. The practical use is, however, limited by the time-consuming data processing that the user has to perform. Therefore, the program StopPow was developed based on algorithms analogous to TRIM, but yielding direct output of interesting quantities such as restricted energy loss (REL) for different cut-off energies of delta electrons or energy shift due to ion passage through material layers of different thicknesses. Tests of the StopPow program were conducted by comparison of exemplary results with TRIM and International Commission on Radiation Measurements and Units (ICRU) data as well as with experimental results. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.