EXPERIMENTAL W-VALUES OF LOW-ENERGY PROTONS IN THE ALKANE SERIES FROMMETHANE TO PENTANE

Accurate measurements of the mean energy expended in a gas per ion pai r formed (W value) for protons slowed down in alkanes are needed (i) i n the fields of neutron metrology and microdosimetry, and (ii) in the field of basic radiation research to check the validity of theoretical models describing the degradation of protons in matter. Here, data fo r protons at energies of less than 100 keV are of particular interest because W increases strongly with decreasing proton energy in the very low-energy region and shows some structure between 10 keV and 100 keV . For these reasons, the energy dependence of W was studied for comple tely slowed down monoenergetic protons in the alkane series from metha ne to pentane at energies 1 keV less than or equal to T less than or e qual to 100 keV, by measuring the positive ionization yield produced i n a plane-parallel ionization chamber. The final results, which have u ncertainties of less than 1.5%, are given in tabular form and also in an analytical representation. They were used to determine the differen tial value omega of the mean energy expended in a gas per ion pair for med and to analyse differences in proton degradation in the alkanes as a function of the number of carbon atoms.