Comparison of the stopping cross-sections of ethylene and polyethylene using alpha particles in the energy range 1.5-4.2 MeV

In order to design reliable gas-filled dosemeters it is necessary to have knowledge of the ratios of the stopping powers of various solids and their gaseous equivalents. The measurement of the stopping cross-sections of ethylene and its polymer polyethylene using alpha particles is described, and the measurements are computed with results published by other workers. The results indicate that there is no difference between the two sets of values, within the quoted errors. Reasons are suggested to account for part of the discrepancy between the results and those of others for thin solid sample measurements.