Characteristic-energy-loss spectra of vanadium and ofV2O3

The characteristic loss spectra of a vanadium-metal single crystal and of a ${\mathrm{V}}_2$ ${\mathrm{O}}_3$ powder have been observed in reflection using an incident electron beam in the energy range of 100-700 eV. Assignment of an inelastic-loss mechanism to each of the characterististic-loss peaks is made and these assignments appear to be consistent with all of the observations made on vanadium to date. In certain circumstances, the probability of an incident electron undergoing a multiple-interband-transitions energy loss may be greater than the single-loss probability; the realization of this phenomenon is instrumental in providing a complete interpretation of the data.