Monte Carlo simulation of ion-induced kinetic electron emission from a metal surface

Abstract

Proton-induced kinetic electron emission from beryllium is studied using a Monte Carlo simulation. The emphasis is put on the effects of roughness and work function of the surface on the energy and angular distributions of emitted electrons as well as the electron yield. For small aspect ratioH/Wof the bowl-structured surface, emission of low-energy cascade electrons from an inclined plane causes an increase in the electron yield, whereas, for largeH/W, re-entrance of emitted electrons causes a decrease in the yield and the number of electrons emitted with oblique angles; where H and W are the depth and width of the structure. The dominant emission of low-energy cascade electrons causes a significant increase in the electron yield with low work function, whereas, with high work function, the high-energy component, as well as the low-energy one, is decreased.