How to stop a fast moving electron

1. Mar 5, 2005

JamesJames

How much iron is required to stop a 500 GeV electron if it only deposits energy via ionization?

Is the following approach correct?

E = E0*e(-x/x0)

x0 = 170*A*density/Z^2

x = ? where x is the stopping distance

E0 = 500 GeV

E = 0.511 MeV

Or should E and E0 be flipped?

James

Last edited: Mar 5, 2005
2. Mar 5, 2005

JamesJames

I say E0 is what is left after it is stopped and comes to rest..this will be the rest energy. Then E must be the initial energy.

Am I correct?

James

3. Mar 5, 2005

dextercioby

Yes,but the question is unclear...Do they mean the mass of the Iron...?How are u gonna get that...?

Daniel.

4. Mar 5, 2005

JamesJames

How much material.....which is x

5. Mar 5, 2005

JamesJames

I have one more

What fraction of a 100 GeV photon beam will be transmitted through a 2cm thick lead absorber?

I used

I = I0*exp(-mu*x)

where mu = density of lead * (0.04 cm^2/gm)

The fraction absorbed is 1- (I/I0)

First of all is the fraction correct or should it be just I/I0. Secondly, why do I not have to use the energy when the book (Ferbel) says that mu should typically depend on the enregy.

James

6. Mar 5, 2005

dextercioby

"x" is the length of the path the electron takes inside the iron.

Daniel.

Anyway,logrithmate & see whether u get something reasonable.

7. Mar 5, 2005

JamesJames

For the electron question I got 13.5 cm.

8. Mar 5, 2005

dextercioby

It's okay.It looks good.The energy is very high.

Daniel.

9. Mar 5, 2005

JamesJames

Any suggestions about the photon question I posted in this thread. I' ll just repeat it here again

What fraction of a 100 GeV photon beam will be transmitted through a 2cm thick lead absorber?

I used

I = I0*exp(-mu*x)

where mu = density of lead * (0.04 cm^2/gm)

The fraction absorbed is 1- (I/I0)

First of all is the fraction correct or should it be just I/I0. Secondly, why do I not have to use the energy when the book (Ferbel) says that mu should typically depend on the enregy.

10. Mar 5, 2005

dextercioby

What do you mean you don't get to use the energy...?You do.That I_{0} is proportinal to the enregy of the incoming photons...

Daniel.

11. Mar 5, 2005

JamesJames

No, I am not using the 100 GeV, so the question could relate to any photon regardless of its energy right?

James

12. Mar 5, 2005

dextercioby

Wy aren't u using that value...?Isn't intesity:energy in unit time...?

Daniel.

13. Mar 5, 2005

JamesJames

Ok, so the energy has been taken into account when calculating the intensity. For the question, I am just looking for the ratio of I / I_0 so I mean in evaluating the exopnential, I am not using the energy.

14. Mar 5, 2005

dextercioby

Yes,okay.Indeed,"what fraction of a beam" requires only the ratio of the 2 intensities...

Daniel.

15. Mar 5, 2005

JamesJames

Also, is the required fraction I/I_0 or 1 - (I/I_0) ? Why?

16. Mar 5, 2005

dextercioby

I_{0} is the initial intensity.I(x) is the value of the intensity in the point "x".For the endpoint of the trajectory through the lead,it's the intensity of the ray which gets out.So the ratio is just I(d)/I_{0}...

Daniel.