Medium Energy Electron Diffraction

Abstract

In recent years low energy electron diffraction (LEED—electron energy range 10–500 eV), and to a lesser extent reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED—energy range 40–100 keV), have played an important role in the investigation of surfaces of solids. Both techniques are however beset with many experimental and theoretical difficulties. Diffraction techniques in the medium energy range (MEED—energy range 1–10 keV) should have theoretical and experimental advantages over both LEED and RHEED. These advantages are discussed and a review is made of the available theoretical methods suitable for this energy range.