A verification of the relativistic correction for electro-static electron spectrometers

Abstract

The relativistic predictions for the non-linear calibration of a spherical sector electron spectrometer, operated with retardation in the constant δ E/ E mode, is verified to an accuracy of ± 0.05 eV over the energy range 0–2500 eV. The verification, involving the comparison of the energy deficit measured between the energy of peaks in the constant δ E mode with that in the constant δ E/ E mode, is obtained by the use of an elastically reflected electron beam at 100 eV intervals over the full energy range. The energy deficit, for a VG Scientific ESCA 3 Mk II with a retard ratio of 1.656, increases from zero at 0 eV to 2.28 eV at 2500 eV. It is concluded that the spectrometer is very well behaved and that the established relativity theory is accurately verified in this investigation.