Electron energy-loss spectroscopy in systems of polarizable spheres

Abstract

We start with a brief presentation of the dielectric formalism used to calculate the energy loss of high-energy electrons (100 keV) passing through a random system of polarizable spheres embedded in a homogeneous matrix. The formalism is then extended to the case of electrons traveling parallel to a homogeneous slab of finite thickness in which either ordered or disordered collections of polarizable spheres are embedded. For an ordered system in which the spheres are in a cubic array, the calculated energy-loss spectra are compared with those of an alternative theory. For a slab with disordered collections of spheres we find the energy-loss spectra using the recursive Green's function method and compare our results with the available experimental data as well as with an extension of the semiclassical-infinite-barrier (SCIB) model. Finally, we discuss the relevance of our work as well as trends for future research.