Calculation of the angular distribution of the surface excitation parameter for Ti, Fe, Cu, Pd, Ag, and Au

Abstract

AbstractWe define surface excitation parameter (SEP) as the change in excitation probability of an electron caused by the presence of the surface in comparison with an infinite medium, and we calculate the angular dependence of the SEP for different metals (Ti, Fe, Cu, Pd, Ag, and Au), for angles to the surface normal between 10° and 70° and for different energies. The calculations are based on a study of energy‐differential inelastic electron scattering cross‐sections obtained from the software Quantitative analysis of Electron Energy Losses at Surfaces (QUEELS) valid for reflection‐electron‐energy‐loss spectroscopy (REELS). The intensity of the surface excitation is isolated from the total spectrum by subtracting the volume component for an infinite medium and the SEP is deduced from it. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.