<title>Radiation-induced electron cascade in diamond and amorphous carbon</title>

Abstract

We have analyzed the evolution and the interaction dynamics of secondary cascade electrons generated by a single Auger electron in diamond and in amorphous carbon. The elastic mean free path was calculated as a function of impact energy, using the muffin-tin potential approximation, while the differential mean free path and the inelastic mean free path were estimated from two different optical models as a function of the impact energy. A Monte-Carlo model for describing the time evolution of the cascade was constructed, and numerical simulations were performed. The results show that the maximal average ionization rate caused by a single Auger electron corresponds to about $20$ to $40$ ionization events in a macroscopic sample. These electrons are liberated within 100 fs, following the Auger emission.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.