Determination of the Be–Auger-electron attenuation length in Be using 160-keV protons

Abstract
We report the first results of a method for determining the inelastic attenuation length of low‐energy electrons in the surface region of a solid from the yield of characteristic Auger electrons excited by proton bombardment. Samples of evaporated beryllium were bombarded by 160‐keV protons, and the attenuation length of 100‐eV electrons in Be was determined to be 6.1 Å.