Comparing experimental stopping power data for positive ions with stopping tables, using statistical analysis

Using our collection of experimental data for ions from Ar-18 to U-92, the reliability of various stopping tables is estimated by comparing them statistically to these data. For solid elements beyond 100 MeV/nucleon, Lindhard-Sorensen is found best; between 30 and 100 MeV/n, SRIM and Hubert are slightly better. Below 30 MeV/n, on the average, SRIM is 6% high in heavy targets and 5% low in light targets. In that range, Hubert is better, and sometimes also CasP 4.0. CasP describes the "positive" solid-gas effect. SRIM does not; it is therefore too high for gases near the maximum. For solid compounds, there are larger deviations from SRIM than for elements. For gaseous compounds, SRIM is too high, as for gaseous elements. But SRIM describes all ions at all energies in all targets, and is best in most cases. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.