Experimental Study of Temperature Dependence on the Characteristic Electron Energy Losses in Aluminum, Tin, Magnesium and Lead

摘要

The characteristic energy losses which are observed when a thin film of metal is bombarded by an energetic beam of electrons were investigated as a function of temperature from 300K to 4.2K. The metals examined are tin, aluminum, magnesium and lead. The change in plasmon energy for magnesium and tin is almost linear, but the aluminum values increase rapidly below 77K while the values for lead decrease below 77K. The observed values are compared to those that would be expected due to a change in the free electron density caused by a thermal expansion or contraction of the sample. Values of the mean free path for plasmon production in aluminum are also presented as a function of temperature. (Author)