| Abstract: | The inelastic mean free paths, λ, of electrons in polycrystalline Ag and Cu samples were determined for electron energies in the range 250–1500 eV by means of elastic peak electron spectroscopy (EPES). In this method the coefficient of elastic scattering of electrons, ηe, is measured. ηe is also calculated theoretically for different assumed values of λ. The value of λ giving the best agreement between the measured and calculated ηe is taken as the experimental one. the ηe measurements were performed for Ag and Cu samples cleaned by mechanical scraping only and for samples cleaned by ion bombardment in order to estimate the eventual influence of surface roughness on the ηe values. Additionally, different methods to calculate ηe theoretically are compared. |
