INFLUENCE OF SURFACES ON ENERGY LOSSES OF FAST ELECTRONS TRAVERSING THIN AL-FILMS

The characteristic energy losses of electrons traversing thin Al-films were measured with high resolution. Especially their dependence on film thickness was investigated. To interpret satisfactory the observed dispersion of surface plasma loss retardation effects had to be taken into account. Furthermore, energy losses in the low energy part of spectrum, e.g. the intraband energy loss of Al, are shown to be surface losses in terms of the dielectric theory. © 1968 Springer-Verlag.