PROTON ELASTIC-SCATTERING CROSS-SECTION ON CARBON FROM 350 KEV TO 3 MEV

Using our set-up for the simultaneous many-angle detection of backscat tered particles [1], we have measured the proton elastic scattering cr oss section on carbon, in the angular range from 100 degrees to 170 de grees (in steps of 5 degrees) and for beam energies from 350 keV to 3 MeV. Thin self-supporting natural carbon foils have been used, similar to 13 mu g/cm(2) for the measurements from 350 to 700 keV, similar to 50 mu g/cm(2) above 700 keV. A scattering spectrum was also simultane ously recorded at 15 degrees (purely Rutherford cross section at all e nergies) for normalisation purposes. Thanks to the simultaneous acquis ition of this spectrum, the uncertainties in the effective target thic kness and in the integrated beam charge do not affect the deduced back scattering cross section values, whose overall accuracy is estimated t o be +/-4% (maximum error) at all the beam energies and angles. (C) 19 98 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.