Energy loss straggling for α-particles in varying thicknesses of Al, Ti and Ni metallic foils

•Straggling in energy loss for 5.486 MeV α-particles in three metallic foils was measured.•For α-particles, 241Am source was used.•Measured straggling values were compared with the commonly used straggling formulations.•Titeica theory was recognized as a best theory.

The energy loss straggling for α-particles, in the fractional energy loss limits (ΔE/E)~10–75%, has been measured in varying thicknesses of Aluminum, Titanium and Nickel metallic foils. These measured values have been compared with the corresponding computed values adopting different theoretical/semi-empirical formulations viz. Bohr, Lindhard and Scharff, Bethe–Livingston, Yang et al. and Titeica. The purpose of this comparison is to recognize the best formulation for such straggling calculations.