Plasmon effects in electron energy loss and gain spectra in aluminium

Abstract

Oberservations of the low energy secondary and Auger electron spectra and the electron energy loss spectra from a clean aluminium surface have been made and the results are compared with other recent studies including that of Jenkins and Chung (1971). Low energy emissions at 5.7 eV and 10.3 eV are associated with the creation of single electron excitations in the valence band by plasmon decay. An apparent anomaly in the plasmon loss and gain peaks associated with the Auger spectrum is discussed.