Mean excitation energy for the stopping power of metallic aluminum: Comments on an article by McGuire

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Abstract
McGuire [Phys. Rev. A 28, 53 (1983)] has suggested that the mean excitation energy I for the stopping power of metallic aluminum should be ‘‘in the range of 145–150 eV,’’ as opposed to the currently recommended value of ∼166 eV. We have reexamined all pertinent information from two independent sources, i.e., measurements of proton stopping power and the semiempirical determination of the dielectric-response function over the entire spectral range. Our conclusion is that the value of 166 eV is essentially correct. Moreover, we point out a number of deficiencies in McGuire’s arguments; some of our remarks concern the values of inner-shell corrections to the Bethe stopping-power formula as evaluated by McGuire [Phys. Rev. A 28, 49 (1983)].