In order to characterize the statistical aspect of the energy loss in particle penetration, Bohr developed a kinetic theory and applied it to a beam of fast α particles interacting with free electrons. The present study rests on this classical theory of collisional straggling, and it is implemented by using a partially screened Coulomb potential to model the electron-projectile interaction. The deflection angle of electron scattering in this long-ranged field is calculated analytically within the framework of classical mechanics. The transport fluctuation cross section, which is the basic quantity to the collisional straggling in Bohr’s modeling, is determined numerically. By varying the number of bound electrons around the swift He ions, the effect of prefixed charge states in the collisional energy-loss straggling is quantified. An incoherent weighted summation of different fixed charge-state channels is discussed as well, by using normalized probabilities.

Financial support by the Spanish MCyT Grant No. FIS2007-066711-CO2-00 is gratefully acknowledged.

Peer reviewed