Retrieval of single-loss profiles from energy-loss spectra A new approach

Abstract

A new method to recover the single-loss probability p, from an electron-energy—loss spectrum, taken in transmission, is presented. Previously used methods are either limited to specimens not exceeding a thickness of one mean free path length, or afford data-sampling over much more of an extended energy interval than one is interested in. The new method exhibits neither of these shortcomings.

Assuming that no energy-gain processes take place, all spectra involved are redefined in terms of triangular matrices. Based upon the Poisson distribution for multiple scattering, a series expansion for the matrix corresponding to p₁ is then derived. The series is shown to converge for any finite thickness of the specimen.