Analysis of ionizing charged-particle shielding and range: compilation for space exploration, medical physics, and nuclear safety

This study explores the stopping power and range of ionizing charged particles, including electrons, positrons, protons, deuterons, tritium, and alpha particles, as they interact with various materials, such as boron, aluminum, silicon, copper, tungsten, lead, water, and air. This highlights the dependence of energy loss mechanisms-ionization, excitation, and bremsstrahlung radiation-on the particle and material properties. Key findings include the distinct behaviors of light versus heavy particles, the significance of the Bragg peak for protons and alpha particles, and the critical role of the material properties in determining the stopping power and range. Recommendations include tailored radiation shielding, improved computational models, further research on heavy ions, and multilayer protection strategies. These findings have significant implications for applications in space exploration, medical physics, nuclear safety, and radiation detection, while advancing material science and computational simulations.