Transport of Energetic Electrons in Solids. Computer Simulation with Applications to Materials Analysis and Characterization

This book describes the computational methods that are most frequently used to deal with the interaction of charged particles, notably electrons, with condensed matter. Both elastic and inelastic scattering phenomena are discussed and methods for calculating the relevant cross-sections are explained in a rigorous but simple way. The book provides readers with all the information they need to write their own Monte Carlo code and simulate the transport of fast particles in condensed matter. Many numerical and experimental examples are presented throughout the book. The updated and extended fourth edition features ab-initio methods for calculating dielectric and energy loss functions. The non-relativistic partial wave expansionmethod for calculating the differential elastic scattering cross-section is also included in this new edition. It represents a very useful introduction to the relativistic partial wave expansion method, i.e., to the Mott theory, already discussed in the previous editions of this book. Further details about the effects of spin-polarization on the differential elastic scattering cross-section are included in this new edition. The multiple reflection method is applied also to the general case of a system composed of a set of layers of different materials and varying in thickness. Analytical expressions are provided for calculating the backscattering coefficient of multilayers. New results are presented, notably about Monte Carlo simulations of reflection electron energy loss spectra and the radial dose deposited along the track of ions impinging on materials.