Calculations of electron energy loss straggling

Abstract

The distribution functions of electron energy losses were calculated using different energy loss straggling theories for a wide range of absorber thicknesses. The broadening of the primary electron energy spectrum by energy loss straggling through ionization was taken into account. Additionally, the increase in the high-energy loss tail due to radiative energy losses was also included. In the calculation of the total energy loss, different distributions of ionization losses were folded into the distribution of radiative losses. Previous difficulties with highly oscillatory integrations are circumvented and an efficient algorithm for accurate quadratures is devised and implemented. Numerical computations require the initial electron energy distribution, material and the thickness of the absorber as input data. The results of these calculations were compared with other theoretical findings, as well as with experimental data. Our numerical code is available to other users for future potential studies involving electron scattering on various foils, Bremsstrahlung production in targets and also for generation of electron energy spectra needed in computations of energy deposition in matter.