Studies of atomic collisions in solids by means of calorimetric techniques

The results of the application of the calorimetric technique to measure the way in which the energy of particles passed through a thin foil and stopped within a solid block is disturbed between the foil and the block are presented. This measurement gives the relative energy loss of the projectile in the foil and hence, since the foil thickness is measured independently, the stopping power. Radiation-damage measurements are discussed. In these measurements, the same cryostat as that employed in the stopping-power measurements was used. The foil was left out and the block remained as a very efficient dosimetry device. Furthermore, a number of experimental complications must be taken into account when damage is measured. Finally, results are presented of the measurement of energy distribution between two systems, this time performed at room temperature. The measurements are not nearly as accurate as those performed at low temperatures, but the physical property studied, the energy reflected from a solid surface bombarded with low-energy heavy ions (sputtering efficiency) could hardly be studied in any other way. The thesis is a summary of thirteen publications on energetic-particle calorimetry, all these papers being reproduced as appendices to the main text. (B.R.H.)