Notes on electron penetration

The first of these three notes argues that, for Monte Carlo studies based on multiple small path-length segments, careful sampling of deflections can in principle be carried out independently of the sampling of energy-loss values. This is because for small path lengths the energy-dependent coefficients of deflection cross sections can be accurately evaluated by a continuous slowing down approximation of the energy-loss spectrum. The second note addresses corrections to the Landau energy-loss distribution, which takes account only of the dominant term in the scattering cross section. Formal changes due to other terms of the cross section are also examined. In the final note, feasibility is explored of non-Monte Carlo studies of electron penetration spectra based only on continuous slowing down i.e. without use of a small angle approximation. (author)