Multiple inelastic electron scattering processes in thin molecular films: a simple model

Abstract

Electron energy loss spectra of multilayer molecular films contain bands resulting from inelastic collisions at two or more sites within the film. The contributions of twofold loss processes are analysed for selected vibrational spectra of benzene and SF 6 using a simple model that was suggested previously and is extended here. It is shown that this analysis can be used not only to detect dipole scattering contributions to particular vibrational excitations. Combined with an estimate of the twofold loss spectrum based on the pattern of the fundamental bands the model also enables the identification of overtone and combination bands which is important for the detection of resonant processes.