Slowing down of light ions in LR-115 nuclear track material

Experimental studies of the slowing down of ¹H, ⁴He, ⁷Li, ¹¹B, ¹²C, ¹⁴N, and ¹⁶O ions in LR-115 type II cellulose nitrate nuclear track etch material in the ion energy range 0.3–4.3 MeV amu^-1 are presented. The ion stopping powers obtained are compared with the predictions of two recent semi-empirical models for calculating ion stopping powers. The predictions are found to underestimate the observed stopping powers for ⁷Li, ¹¹B and ¹²C ions. The deviations are below 10%. The stopping power data are further compared with those of a polypyromellitimide material (Kapton) composed of the same atomic elements. The similar stopping power behaviour observed for these two materials, in agreement with semi-empirical predictions, is discussed.