Minimum Ionizing Particle
In physics, a minimum ionizing particle (or mip) is a particle whose mean energy loss rate through matter is close to the minimum.
When a fast charged particle passes through matter, it ionizes or excites the atoms or molecules that it encounters, losing energy in small steps. The mean rate at which it loses energy depends on the material, the kind of particle and also its momentum. In practical cases, most relativistic particles (e.g., cosmic-ray muons) are minimum ionizing particles.
Read more about this topic: Stopping Power (particle Radiation)
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