Retarded field calculation of electron energy loss in inhomogeneous dielectrics

F. J. García de Abajo and A. Howie
Phys. Rev. B 65, 115418 – Published 8 March 2002
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Abstract

The exact solution of Maxwell’s equations in the presence of arbitrarily shaped dielectrics is expressed in terms of surface-integral equations evaluated at the interfaces. The electromagnetic field induced by the passage of an external electron is then calculated in terms of self-consistently obtained boundary charges and currents. This procedure is shown to be suitable for the simulation of electron energy loss spectra when the materials under consideration are described by local frequency-dependent response functions. The particular cases of translationally invariant interfaces and axially symmetric interfaces are discussed in detail. The versatility of this method is emphasized by examples of energy loss spectra for electrons passing near metallic and dielectric wedges, coupled cylinders, spheres, and tori, and other complex geometries, where retardation aspects and Cherenkov losses can sometimes be significant.

  • Received 21 September 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.65.115418

©2002 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

F. J. García de Abajo*

  • Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHU and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Aptdo. 1072, 20080 San Sebastián, Spain

A. Howie

  • Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OHE, England

  • *Email address: jga@sw.ehu.es

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Issue

Vol. 65, Iss. 11 — 15 March 2002

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