Microscopic analysis of the characteristic energy loss spectra of 3d-and 4d-transition metal carbides and nitrides

Microscopic studies of the electron-energy-loss-spectra (EELS) of the nitrides and carbides of the transition metals Ti, V, Zr, Nb in the energy range to about 35 eV have been done using the linear-muffin-tin-orbital (LMTO) method for solving the band structure problem. Special attention has been paid to the low energy region where for some of these compounds there is an interesting feature in the EELS. Good agreement between the calculations and experiment was obtained. The similarities and differences of these compounds are discussed in terms of their electronic structure.