ELECTRON INELASTIC MEAN FREE PATHS AND ENERGY-LOSSES IN SOLIDS .1. ALUMINUM METAL

Inelastic mean free paths and energy losses in aluminum metal are calculated for electrons with energies from a few eV to 104 eV above the Fermi level. We have represented the contribution from excitations of the valence electrons by using an electron gas model. The effect of damping in the electron gas on the mean free path and energy loss is included within the context of the Mermin-Kliewer-Fuchs model of the electron gas dielectric function. The influence of core polarizability and local field corrections are discussed briefly. The contributions to the mean free path and energy loss of electrons from ionization of inner shells have been evaluated from atomic models. Comparisons are made with experimental data taken over a wide range of energies. © 1979.