Diffraction peaks in secondary-electron energy spectra

Abstract

Energy spectra of secondary electrons from the (100) face of a well-ordered Ni crystal display peak in the 100–400-eV range, which cannot be associated with Auger transitions in atoms at the surface. These peaks diminish with increasing temperature at the same rate as the integer-order peaks at the same energy in the I-E characteristic for the (0,0) LEED beam near normal incidence. These peaks are also diminished by any degradation of the crystalline order in the near-surface region of the crystal such as that caused by ion implantation during sputtering or by the presence of surface impurities in a nonordered structure. The. observed properties suggest a diffraction phenomenon, and a discussion is given of possible relationships with other diffraction effects.