Competition of inelastic electron scattering and Interatomic Coulombic Decay in Ne clusters

•The competition of scattering vs. ICD is discussed for Ne clusters of different size.•Larger clusters show higher scattering contribution to the formation of slow electrons.•The kinetic energy of the ICD electron varies with cluster size.•Simple estimates based on Coulomb repulsion are used to explain observed shifts.•The results obtained for clusters will help in modelling larger, extended systems.

The creation of slow electrons due to Interatomic Coulombic Decay of 2s vacancies in Ne clusters is quantitatively compared to the slow electron yield by intracluster electron impact ionization. Using electron-electron coincidence spectroscopy, both channels can be separated experimentally. Two cluster size distributions, corresponding to two and five to six filled solvation shells, are probed.