Electron Characteristic Energy Losses in Metals and Compounds

Abstract

The characteristic energy loss spectra of electrons in the metals Al, C, Sb, Ca, Pb, Na, and Te and compounds of these metals have been measured with an improved measuring technique designed to give more reliable intensity relationships, and it is found that, with the exception of ${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, the compound spectra show a decided similarity to the spectra of their parent metal spectra. Rudberg's premise that such a similarity is due to oxidation of the parent metal is shown not to hold. It is proposed that the characteristic losses, except in the case of Al, and possibly Be and Mg, are due to interband transitions. For Al, and possibly Be and Mg, the characteristic losses may be due to excitation of a free electron plasma.