Calculation of electron slowing down spectra--II. Classical cross sections

Area of Science:

• Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Radiation Physics

Background:

• Electron slowing down spectra are crucial for understanding energy deposition in materials.
• Classical Coulomb cross sections offer an approximation for atomic electron binding effects.
• Experimental data for beta ray sources in metals provide benchmarks for theoretical models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To calculate electron slowing down spectra using classical Coulomb cross sections.
• To evaluate the impact of atomic electron binding on electron energy loss.
• To compare theoretical calculations with experimental results for beta decay in metals.

Main Methods:

• Utilized classical Coulomb cross sections incorporating approximate atomic electron binding.
• Performed calculations for electron slowing down spectra in aluminum, copper, and gold.
• Compared computational results with available experimental data for beta ray sources.

Main Results:

• Incorporating electron binding increased low-energy electron flux, enhancing agreement with experimental data.
• A simplified, empirical model showed reasonable agreement down to approximately 300 eV for all tested metals.
• More detailed investigations into metal electronic structures revealed limitations of the classical model.

Conclusions:

• Classical Coulomb cross sections provide a useful approximation for electron slowing down spectra, particularly at higher energies.
• The simplified model's agreement suggests the importance of electron binding effects.
• The inadequacy of the classical model for detailed electronic structure analysis highlights the need for more sophisticated theoretical approaches.