Electron-methane interaction model for the energy range 0.1-10 000 eV

Electron interaction cross sections with methane have been collected from literature in order to recommend an extensive data set ranging from 0.1-10 000 eV. We have calculated total and elastic cross sections. Complementary experimental electron energy loss distributions covering a wide energy range (20-3000 eV) were measured using two different experimental setups and are here presented for the first time. Bringing together these new contributions and existing information, an interaction model at the molecular level for electrons in CH4 is developed in the form of a Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, we use this to calculate the stopping power of methane and compare it with tabulated data provided by the NIST database. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This study has been partially supported by the following research projects and institutions: Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Plan Nacional de Física, Project FIS2006-00702), European Science Foundation (COST Action CM0601 and EIPAM Project), Acciones Integradas Hispano-Portuguesas (Project HP2006-0042). We acknowledge technical support from the Spanish National Institute for Fusion Research of CIEMAT.Peer Reviewe