Low energy electron induced characteristic losses in the Fe73.6Cu1Nb2.4Si15.8B7.2 (FINEMET) alloy surface

Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy has been employed for investigation of the electronic states of amorphous and crystalline Fe73.6Cu1Nb2.4Si15.8B7.2 (FINEMET) alloy surface and alloy components. Electron energy losses have been measured for primary electron beam energies E0 from 150 to 650 eV. The characteristic energy loss spectra were composed of main peaks which we have interpreted due to surface and bulk plasmons, a combination of surface and bulk losses, high harmonics of plasma losses, inter-band transitions and ionization of core levels. The measured energies for the plasmon excitations were found not to agree with calculated values according to the classical theory for the collective oscillations in solids. Changes in the intensity lines of the surface and bulk plasmons were observed for all specimens depending on primary electron energy E0. The present results are compared with characteristic energy loss data reported in the literature.