Stopping of heavy ions : a theoretical approach This book offers a concise presentation of theoretical concepts characterizing and quantifying the slowing down of swift heavy ions in matter. Although the penetration of charged particles through matter has been studied for almost a hundred years the quantitative theory for swift penetrating ions heavier than helium has been developed mainly during the past decade and is still progressing rapidly. The book addresses scientists and engineers working at accelerators with an interest in materials analysis and modification medical diagnostics and therapy mass spectrometry and radiation damage as well as atomic and nuclear physicists. Although not a textbook this monograph represents a uniquesource of state of the art information that is useful to a university teacher in any course involving the interaction of charged particles with matter. TOC:Introduction. Definitions. Units Fundamental Constants and Conversion Factors. General Considerations. Electronic Stopping of Point Charges. Electronic Stopping of Dressed Ions. Aggregation Effects. Low Velocity Electronic Stopping. Survey of Current Theoretical Schemes. Nuclear Stopping. Related Processes. Statistics of Particle Penetration. Straggling. Multiple Scattering. Restricted Nuclear Stopping. Range and Range Straggling. Concluding Remarks