Electron Mean-Free Paths in the Alkali Metals

Authors

G. K. Wertheim
D. Mark Riffe, Utah State UniversityFollow
N. V. Smith
P. H. Citrin

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Physical Review B

Volume

46

Issue

4

Publication Date

7-15-1992

First Page

1955

Last Page

1959

Abstract

Photoemission data in which the signal from the first atomic layer is well resolved from that of the bulk are used to determine accurately the kinetic-energy dependence of the inelastic-electron mean free path in the alkali metals. At the higher kinetic energies, the data are in very good agreement with the theory of Penn. Below about 10 eV, the mean free path in the heavier alkali metals drops markedly below the theoretical values. This is attributed to electron decay processes involving the unoccupied d bands.

Comments

Published by American Physical Society in Physical Review B. Publisher PDF is available for download through link above.

Recommended Citation

"Electron Mean-Free Paths in the Alkali Metals," G. K. Wertheim, D. M. Riffe, N. V. Smith, and P. H. Citrin, Phys. Rev. B 46, 1955 (1992).