Exploring reciprocity as a tool in low-energy electronic stopping

A computer code has been developed to explore reciprocity, i.e. the equivalence of electronic stopping cross sections for the ion-target pair A in B with that for B in A in the regime around and below the Bohr speed. With the aim of establishing reciprocity as a tool for identifying reliable experimental data and interpolating between them, we have studied stopping cross sections involving carbon, aluminium and gold either as projectile ions or as target materials. The case of carbon - where numerous data are available - is used to illustrate in detail various options to establish a body of credible data. Aluminium and gold serve to illustrate the case where these elements mostly are found as target materials in available data.