Physics of Particle Detection

(Everything from geiger counters to the ALEPH detector.)

Charged particles passing through matter

primarily due to 

 (a) collisions with atomic electrons

 (b) scattering from atomic nuclei

These interactions occur frequently

s ~  (atomic size)2 ~  (1Å)2 ~ 108b

 

Other processes

 (c) bremsstrahlung

 (d) coherent em radiation

 (e) inelastic nuclear reactions

 


 

Ionization Energy Loss

For a heavy (M>me), fast (b> a) charged (Q=ze) particle, the ionization energy loss per unit distance travelled in a medium is:

ndensity of electrons in medium
Ieffective ionization potential of atoms in medium (~10 eV)
d "density effect" due to screening of charged particle's electromagnetic field by polarization of atoms in medium

d asymptotes to [2 ln(g) + constant] for g>>1

C/Z"shell corrections" important when b ~ batomic electrons ~ a
n higher order QED corrections important when b ~ a

 


 

Effective ionization potential (I) / atomic number (Z)

Figure 22.4 of Review of Particle Properties , Phys. Rev. D 54, No. 1. (see also the Mass Spectrometer experiment in the 3/4th year labs.)

 


 

Ionization energy loss rate in various materials

 


 

 


 

Ionization energy loss measured in ARGUS propane drift chamber.

 


 

Bremsstrahlung

All charged particles scatter from the atomic nuclei and electrons when passing through a medium. When a charged particle is accelerated it radiates, so scattering of charged particles produces radiation. The radiation produced by charge particles passing through a medium is know as "bremsstrahlung".

The mean bremstrahlung energy loss of a charged particle (mass M, charge ze) is

dE/dx = -E/X0

where the radiation length, X0, for the medium (atom density na and atomic number Z) is approximately given by

X0 = M2/[4nae6z4Z(Z+1)ln(183/Z1/3)]

Bremstrahlung dominates the energy loss of electrons above the critical energy, Ec; ionization dominates at lower energies.

 


 

Energy loss of electrons

The critical energy (in lead) of the electron is about 7 MeV; the critical energy of the next lightest particle (the muon) is about half a TeV.