Applied physics
N 1, 2003

Interactions of fast helium ions with an emitter of radioisotope source of electric current

V. M. Balebanov, N. S. Erokhin, N. N. Zol’nikova, L. A. Mikhailovskaya, S. S. Moiseev
Space Research Institute of RAS, Moscow, Russia

   The interactions of fast helium ions of initial energies in the range Ea< = 5 МeV with an emitter heterogeneous medium in a secondary-emission radioisotope source of electric current are considered. It was elaborated approximation formulae which allow to calculate, in particular, the stopping power of emitter matter, the ranges of charged particles in emitter composite medium and so on. In the case of helium ions from a polonium radioisotope source, the emitter effective width was determined. The optimum conditions of electric current generation by secondary electrons in the heterogeneous medium of emitter and the optimum choice of parameters of battery demonstration sample are discussed.

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