Improved reverse Monte Carlo analysis of optical property of Fe and Ni from reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy spectra

The energy loss functions (ELFs) of Fe and Ni have been derived from measured reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectra by a reverse Monte Carlo analysis in our previous work. In this work, we present further improvements of ELFs for these metals. For Fe, we have updated ELFs at primary electron energies of 2 keV and 3 keV in a wider photon energy region (0-180 eV) with a better accuracy, which is verified by sum rules. Regarding to Ni, we supplement the ELF at primary energy of 5 keV and we also improve the data accuracy at 3 keV. Applying these new and more accurate ELFs we present the optical constants and dielectric functions for the two metals. The improvements were highlighted by comparing our present results with the previous data.

Energy loss function of samarium

We present a combined experimental and theoretical work to obtain the energy loss function (ELF) or the excitation spectrum of samarium in the energy loss range between 3 and 200 eV. At low loss energies, the plasmon excitation is clearly identified and the surface and bulk contributions are distinguished. For the precise analysis the frequency-dependent energy loss function and the related optical constants (n and k) of samarium were extracted from the measured reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectra by the reverse Monte Carlo method. The ps- and f-sum rules with final ELF fulfils the nominal values with 0.2% and 2.5% accuracy, respectively. It was found that a bulk mode locates at 14.2 eV with the peak width ~6 eV and the corresponding broaden surface plasmon mode locates at energies of 5-11 eV.

Colossal dielectric performance of pure barium titanate ceramics consolidated by spark plasma sintering

The pure BaTiO₃ nanoceramics have a high permittivity up to 6 × 10⁴ and a low dielectric loss. The polaron dipoles configured by oxygen vacancies and Ti³⁺ cations within grains could contribute to the colossal dielectric permittivity of the ceramics.

Quantum-trajectory Monte Carlo method for study of electron–crystal interaction in STEM

A quantum trajectory Monte Carlo method is developed to simulate electron scattering and secondary electron cascade process in crystalline specimen.