Firsov approach to heavy-ion stopping in warm matter using a finite-temperature Thomas–Fermi model

Low-velocity (<c/137) heavy-ion stopping in warm (kT<10 eV) matter was investigated by means of a Firsov model, in which the projectile energy loss was evaluated from the drag force due to the exchange of electrons between the projectile and the target. A finite-temperature Thomas–Fermi model was applied in order to calculate the density and momentum distribution of electrons around the nuclei of the collision partners. We have found that the stopping cross-section depends only weakly on the target temperature, whereas the density dependence is rather strong.