Inelastic electron scattering from a quasi-one-dimensional electron gas

A theoretical investigation has been made of the fast-particle energy-loss to a quasi-one-dimensional electron gas (Q1DEG) within the framework of the random-phase-approximation (RPA). For this purpose, we use an exact expres sion for the inverse dielectric function and the parabolic potential to cha racterize well the lateral confinement. Three geometries are considered: th e fast-particle moving parallel to, being specularly reflected from and sho oting through the Q1DEG. The illustrative numerical examples lead us to inf er that the dominant contribution to the loss peaks comes from the intra- a nd intersubband collective excitations. We argue that high resolution elect ron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) could prove to be a potential alterna tive of the existing optical techniques. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.