Stopping powers and extrapolated ranges for electrons (1-10 keV) in metals

Abstract

A thin film quasiadiabatic calorimeter has been applied to the measurement of the stopping power for electrons, under conditions of small angle scattering, in Al, Ni, Cu, Ag and Au in the energy region 1 keV to 10 keV. Results are presented with an estimated precision of 15%. Corrections are included for the multiple scattering enhancement of the apparent path length of electrons in the film; thermal leakage during the irradiation of the calorimeter and the effective primary electron energy in the film. Good agreement is found with available theory. Fractional transmission curves are presented for monoenergetic electrons incident on the metal films. From these, extrapolated ranges are deduced and expressed as empirical range-energy relationships. A clear Z dependence is observed.