Electron scattering from Xe: the relation between the differential elastic cross section and shape and intensity of the energy loss spectra

The measurement of the energy loss spectra of energetic electrons scattered from Xe over large angles is reported. The incoming energy was chosen between 600 eV and 1550 eV. The calculated Xe elastic scattering cross section has a sharp minimum for 750 eV electrons near 135◦. This minimum is confirmed by studying a Xe–H2 mixture and separating their elastic peak based on the recoil effect. The energy loss part of the Xe spectra is rich in structure. Surprisingly the shape and intensity (relative to the elastic peak) changes dramatically if one approaches the scattering conditions for which the elastic cross section has a minimum. These observations are rationalized by describing the inelastic intensity semi-classically, as a consequence of a two-step process occurring at the same atom involving scattering from the nucleus and an electronic excitation. The change in shape of the loss spectra is attributed to a large increase in relative intensity of the dipole-forbidden transitions near sharp minima in the elastic cross section. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)