Screening function

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-010598",
  "term": "Screening function",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A correction factor applied to the Rutherford scattering cross section for an ion colliding with a target nucleus, accounting for the reduction caused by the target atom's electrons screening the nuclear charge. It is close to 1 for fast light ions and falls below 1 at low energy and for heavy projectiles, which do not penetrate deep inside the electron cloud. It is used in Rutherford backscattering analysis.",
  "subject": "Analytical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "Rutherford cross section",
    "screening"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2020, 92, 1781. 'Glossary of methods and terms used in surface chemical analysis (IUPAC Recommendations 2020)' on page 1835 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2019-0404)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/screening-function/"
}