The energy spectrum of back-scattered electrons and characteristic loss and gain phenomena of the Cu(111)

Abstract

The energy spectrum of electrons back-scattered from the Cu(111) has been determined. Approximately ten characteristic loss values were detected in the range immediately below elastic peak energies. Satellite peaks were observed on both sides of the ≈ 60 eV Cu Auger doublet. The relative positions of these satellites suggest that Auger electrons experienced characteristic gains, as well as losses. Analysis of the spectrum at near zero kinetic energy showed many structural details just above the inelastic peak. Energies of discrete events relative to the inelastic peak correlated well with the loss spectrum. It appeared that electrons with energies within the spectrum of the inelastic peak could undergo characteristic energy gains analogous to the characteristic losses by primary electrons. It was concluded that the experimental evidence gave support to the concept of a characteristic gain phenomenon.