Depth distribution function calculated by quantum scattering theory

The depth distribution function (DDF) φ(z) in normal photoemission from solids is studied by use of quantum full multiple scattering theory and non-Hermitian optical potential Σ. The damping of the photoelectron waves is taken into account without use of ad hoc assumption: Re0.2em0exΣ has influence on the elastic scatterings from surrounding atoms and the Im0.2em0exΣ on the damping of the photoelectron wave. The present theoretical approach explicitly takes the details of atomic arrangement in solids into account, which is in contrast to the currently used classical approaches applied to jellium models. The latter approach cannot study interference effects caused by elastic scatterings from different atomic sites. To properly describe the DDF, full multiple scattering renormalization is inevitable even at 10000.3em0exeV, which needs large scale computations. The elastic scatterings give rise to a peak at z~4.10.3em0ex in the DDF both for one- and three-dimensional models. Temperature effects on the DDF are also discussed, which smear the DDF because the quantum interference effects are destroyed because of the thermal motions. The asymptotic behavior of φ(z) for large z shows simple exponential decay from which we can estimate ``mean free path.'' It is, however, different from the original one, since elastic scatterings are renormalized to it.