Design and Fabrication of a Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometer and its Use in Measuring Stopping Cross Sections of Aluminum Oxide for Charged Particles.

The fundamental physical principles of Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) are presented. A description of the RBS spectrometer developed at Brigham Young University is given, along with the procedures used to calibrate the system for routine sample analysis. Operating procedures for the 4MV Van de Graaff accelerator are included, along with a description of the electronic automation of an 80 position sample changer. Sample foils of aluminum oxide were prepared by anodic oxidation of aluminum foil and subsequent dissolution of the unreacted aluminum. The foils were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Using these foils, stopping cross sections of aluminum oxide for protons, deuterons, and helium ions were measured for particles in the energy range 0.90 MeV to 2.50 MeV. These measured stopping cross sections are compared to other literature results, and to the theoretical values as predicted by Bragg's Rule.