Ophel, TTimmers, HeikoElliman, Robert2015-12-130168-9002http://hdl.handle.net/1885/94991The performance of a large solid-angle, position-sensitive, gas ionization detector used for elastic recoil detection analysis with heavy ions has been investigated in detail. In particular, a front electrode in the anode, that was intended for measurements of the initial energy loss of incident heavy ions, proved especially valuable as a means of understanding the non-linearities inherent to the methods of spatial determination employed by a widely used type of detector, and the influence of the window on the collection of electrons at the anode. Alternative design features are proposed to remove the non-linearities and to allow the measurement of the energy loss near the detector entrance.Keywords: Elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA); Ion beam analysis; Solid angle gas ionization detectors; Anodes; Electrons; Energy dissipation; Heavy ions; Ion beams; Ionization chambers 29.40.Cs; 29.40.Gx; 81.70.Jb; 81.70.Yb; Elastic recoil detection; Ion beam analysis199910.1016/S0168-9002(98)01408-92015-12-12