THERMALIZATION OF SUBEXCITATION ELECTRONS IN A MEDIUM WITH TIME DISPERSION

The slowing down process of light charged subexcitation particles of f inite size in a medium with time dispersion is considered. The theory developed is applied to the slowing down of the secondary electrons kn ocked out by another energetic particle. Total energy loss is made up from the Debye losses, excitation of intra- and intermolecular vibrati ons and the mutual Coulomb attraction between parent ion and knocked o ut lectron. In this case the process is essentially transient, and ene rgy loss rate is explicitly time-dependent.