A Range Measurement of Low Energy Electrons Using Radioisotope Auger Electrons

Ranges of electrons in organic matter were measured in the energy region 0.4∼1 keV. A stearate monomolecular layer radioactive source, being free from self-absorption, was prepared with electron capture decay nuclides which emitted low energy L Auger electrons. Barium stearate monomolecular multilayer was appropriate as an absorber for low energy electrons owing to the characteristics of a thin and uniform layer with known thickness. A double proportional counter was used, which permitted the measurement of the intensity of L Auger electrons without disturbance of K Auger electrons. It was possible to determine the range, for example 4.35 -0.50 +0.63 µg/cm 2 for 578±52 eV electrons, in organic film with accuracy in the low energy region.