Energetic electron degradation spectra and initial yields in argon

The complete degradation of an energetic electron in argon has been calculated. The input to this calculation consists of a complete set of internally consistent inelastic scattering cross sections for five distinct excitations and two (M and L shell) ionizations as well as L shell Auger emission. A Monte–Carlo procedure has been developed that efficiently calculates the complete degradation of all electrons generated in the medium. Our results provide (1) initial yields (species per incident electron) and radio-chemical W values for all species and their dependencies on T0. (2) Distribution of electrons, delineated by kinetic energy and by generation (secondary, tertiary, etc.); such distributions are shown to be explicitly related to the Spencer–Fano track length. (3) The effectiveness of these electrons in the production of various excited and ionized species.