NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF ELECTRON-ENERGY-LOSS NEAR INHOMOGENEOUS DIELECTRICS

The nonrelativistic energy loss suffered by fast electrons passing nea r dielectric interfaces of arbitrary shape is calculated by solving Po isson's equation using the boundary-charge method. The potential induc ed by a moving electron is expressed in terms of surface-charge distri butions placed at the interfaces. These surface charges, obtained by s elf-consistently solving the resulting integral equation, act back on the electron producing a retarding force and hence energy loss. The di electrics are described by frequency-dependent dielectric functions. T wo particular cases are discussed in further detail: interfaces invari ant under translation along one particular direction and axially symme tric interfaces. Previous results for simple geometries, such as plane s, spheres, and cylinders, based upon analytical solutions, are fully reproduced within this approach. Calculations are presented for electr ons moving near wedges, coupled parallel cylinders, coupled spheres, a nd toroidal surfaces. [S0163-1829(97)00848-5].