Convoy electron production and ionization in 390 MeV/u Ar17+ ion collisions with thin foils

Interactions of relativistic clothed heavy ions with solid targets have bee n studied for 390 MeV/u Ar17+ ions traversing carbon foils of various thick nesses through measurements of the convoy electrons. The electron energy sp ectra at OD were obtained by a magnetic analyzer combined with a Si surface barrier detector with a depletion layer of 5 mm. The peak widths of the co nvoy electrons in the laboratory frame have been found to decrease as the t arget thickness is increased from 25 to about 500 mu g/cm(2), and broaden f or thicker targets due to multiple scattering.