Energy deposition in N and N+ by high-energy electron beams

A discrete, time-dependent energy deposition model is used to study high-energy electron-beam (100 eV–10 MeV) deposition in N and N+. Both time-dependent and steady-state secondary electron distributions are computed. The loss function, mean energies per electron-ion pair production (W), production efficiencies, and distribution functions are presented for a wide range of energies. The latest experimental and theoretical cross sections are used in the model which predicts that W is approximately 31 eV for N and 72 eV for N+ over a wide range of beam energies. The sensitivity of these results to assumed background ionization fractions is also investigated.