Determination of the energy loss function of tungsten from reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy spectra

Abstract

We incorporate experimental reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectrum data with theoretical analysis to precisely determine the energy loss function (ELF) of tungsten (W) in the energy loss range of 0.1–110 eV at the incident electron energies of 1 keV, 2 keV and 3 keV. Employing the reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) method, we have obtained an averaged ELF whose relative errors of the perfect-screening sum rule and oscillator-strength sum rule were ∼ 0.70 % and 0.68 %, respectively. This ELF was then used to derive the optical constants and complex dielectric function. Furthermore, we have successfully differentiated between bulk and surface contributions to the REELS spectra throughout the entire considered energy loss range.