Comparison of Monte Carlo simulation and measurement of electron reflection from solids

Using our Monte-Carlo (MC) code, we simulated the energy-angular distribution of electrons elastically reflected from Au at relatively low electron energy 0.2 - 5.0 keV. The MC data were compared with experimental values measured at energy 0.4 - 2.0 keV and 0.1 - 1.5 keV, respectively, and in the emission angle range 15 - 70 . Taking into account only simple elastic and inelastic scattering, some discrepancies appeared. The positions of the peaks in the angular distributions agreed well, while the MC values at a maximum of 60 peak, were rather different. To explain the difference, we first considered the possibility that energy is lost during ''elastic'' collision, i.e., by excitation of continuum (X-ray) radiation, and then the possibility of surface plasmon generation. The inclusion of these processes in our MC code improves the agreement somewhat. (orig.)