Wide energy range cross section of elastic electron scattering in matter: dependence of dynamical screening of target atoms on electron velocity

Abstract

We present a model of electron-atoms (elastic) scattering of electrons in matter, applicable in a wide electron energy range from ~eV up to relativistic ones. The approach based on the dynamic-structure factor considers dynamical screening of atomic nuclei in a target by valence (collective) and core-shell electrons, dependent on the incident electron velocity. The model allows simulating electron transport in matter with a unified approach to the elastic scattering. The cross section recovers the limiting cases of the electron-phonon scattering in the low energy limit, and a screened-ion scattering with the decreasing screening reducing to the scattering on a bare nucleus in the high energy limit.