Secondary Electron Emission Process Research Articles

A Study of the Factors Influencing Multipactor to Low-Pressure Gas Discharge

Multipactor and low-pressure gas discharges have a negative impact on the performance and security of microwave components in space. In this manuscript, a 2-dimensional parallel flat plate structural model was designed to simulate the breakdown of multipactor to low-pressure gas discharges. The breakdown levels in the pressure range of 0.1 to 100 torr were verified under the conditions of the Ag material, 4-mm gap, 2.6-GHz frequency, and air as the background gas. Random secondary electron emission and gas molecule collision processes are incorporated, and the effect of their transition section is studied using trajectory tracking and Monte Carlo methods. A comparison of the model to the available experimental data demonstrates the model’s accuracy. On this basis, the variation of gas adsorption in relation to the surface secondary electron yields was considered, and the effect of the gas adsorption issues on breakdown level was calculated by means of numerical simulations based on some assumptions. The calculation reveals that in a finite volume of space, smaller desorption volumes cause negligible pressure changes, but the secondary electron emission capacity of the material decreases, which, in turn, leads to a flat or rising breakdown level. On the contrary, the larger the desorption volume, the more the gas is collisionally ionized and the breakdown level decreases.

Evolution of vacuum surface flashover for angled dielectric insulators with particle-in-cell simulation

With the introduction of the gas diffusion model, the surface flashover at the insulator–vacuum interface perpendicular to electrodes is simulated with the particle-in-cell method. The distributions of density of electrons, ions, and neutral gas molecules are obtained, which is consistent with images diagnosed in the experiment. The gas pressure at the dielectric surface near electrodes is much higher than it is at other locations. Furthermore, the processes of vacuum surface flashover for angled dielectric insulators are analyzed. The results show that negative charges will accumulate on the dielectric surface when the negative angle is large. The electric field produced by negative charges weakens the normal electric field and emission current on the cathode triple junction. Moreover, the process of secondary electron emission is completely suppressed when the negative angle is large. With the development of gas desorption, the breakdown will evolve from field emission into gas ionization. Therefore, when the angle is negative, the threshold of surface flashover first decreases then increases with the angle, which is in good agreement with laws obtained in experiments. This study can provide a deep understanding to the vacuum surface flashover.

First principles inelastic mean free paths coupled with Monte Carlo simulation of secondary electron yield of Cu-Ni, Cu-Zn, and Mo-Li

Secondary electron yield (SEY) is relevant for widely used characterization methods (e.g., secondary electron spectroscopy and electron microscopy) and materials applications (e.g., multipactor effect). Key quantities necessary for understanding the physics of electron transport in materials and simulation of SEY are electron mean free paths (MFPs). This paper explores the impact of alloying on MFPs and SEY for Cu-Ni, Cu-Zn, and Mo-Li alloys relative to their component metals Cu, Ni, Zn, Mo, and Li. Density functional theory calculations yield density of states, Fermi energy, work function, and frequency- and momentum-dependent energy loss function. These material properties were used to calculate MFPs and Monte Carlo simulations were performed to obtain energy dependent SEY for the alloys as well for the component metals. The results show that MFPs and SEYs of the studied alloys lie between those of component pure elements but are not a simple composition weighted average. Detailed analysis of the secondary electron generation and emission process shows that the changes in the SEY of alloys relative to the SEY of their component metals depend on the changes in both electronic structure and dielectric properties of the material.

Secondary electron emission under magnetic constraint: from Monte Carlo simulations to analytical solution

The secondary electron emission process is essential for the optimal operation of a wide range of applications, including fusion reactors, high-energy accelerators, or spacecraft. The process can be influenced and controlled by the use of a magnetic field. An analytical solution is proposed to describe the secondary electron emission process in an oblique magnetic field. It was derived from Monte Carlo simulations. The analytical formula captures the influence of the magnetic field magnitude and tilt, electron emission energy, electron reflection on the surface, and electric field intensity on the secondary emission process. The last two parameters increase the effective emission while the others act the opposite. The electric field effect is equivalent to a reduction of the magnetic field tilt. A very good agreement is shown between the analytical and numerical results for a wide range of parameters. The analytical solution is a convenient tool for the theoretical study and design of magnetically assisted applications, providing realistic input for subsequent simulations.

Analysis of Multipactor Effects by a Particle-in-Cell Algorithm Integrated With Secondary Electron Emission Model on Irregular Grids

We combine a novel finite-element-based electromagnetic particle-in-cell (EM-PIC) algorithm for the solution of Maxwell–Vlasov equations on irregular (unstructured) grids together with the Furman–Pivi probabilistic model governing the secondary electron emission process. The algorithm can be used for the analysis of resonant electron discharging phenomena (multipactor effects) in high-power radio frequency devices. In contrast to previous algorithms, the present EM-PIC algorithm yields a self-consistent time update of fields and particles on irregular grids with energy and charge conservation obtained from first principles. The use of unstructured grids enables local mesh refinement and simulation of complex geometries with minimal geometric defeaturing. We apply the algorithm to model multipactor effects on waveguides with flat or corrugated walls. We contrast the evolution of the electron population in various cases and investigate the respective saturation processes arising from self-field counterbalancing effects.

Simulation of secondary emission calorimeter for future colliders

We present updated results from a simulation study of a conceptual sampling electromagnetic calorimeter based on secondary electron emission process. We implemented the secondary electron emission process in Geant4 as a user physics list and produced the energy spectrum and yield of secondary electrons. The energy resolution of the SEE calorimeter was σ/E = (41%) GeV1/2/√E and the response linearity to electromagnetic showers was to within 1.5%. The simulation results were also compared with a traditional scintillator calorimeter.

Onset of turbulence induced by electron nonthermality in a complex plasma in presence of positively charged dust grains

In this paper onset of turbulence has been detected from the study of non linear dust acoustic wave propagation in a complex plasma considering electrons nonthermal and equilibrium dust charge positive. Dust grains are charged by secondary electron emission process. Our analysis shows that increase in electron nonthermality makes the grain charging process faster by reducing the magnitude of the nonadiabaticity induced pseudo viscosity. Consequently nature of dust charge variation changes from nonadiabatic to adiabatic one. For further increase of electron nonthermality, this pseudo viscosity becomes negative and hence generates a turbulent grain charging behaviour. This turbulent grain charging phenomenon is exclusively the outcome of this nonlinear study which was not found in linear analysis.

Monte Carlo simulation of temporal behavior of surface charging across insulator at flashover initial stage in vacuum

The temporal behaviors of charging on insulator surface at flashover initial stage is studied under dc voltage in vacuum. It suggests that the surface charging process develops synchronously with multipactor phenomena. A saturated region is firstly formed nearby the cathode triple junction (CTJ), and the insulator surface is charged gradually from cathode toward anode as the multipactor develops forward. The surface charge density increases linearly with applied electric field, but a stronger applied electric field will slow down the charging velocity as the results of violent collisions of secondaries with dielectric surface due to the stronger normal field built by surface charges. The charging velocity mainly depends on the secondary electron yield (SEY) for dielectric, i.e., the higher SEY, the greater the charging velocity is. The emitter height from CTJ has great influence on surface charging at areas adjacent to cathode, but little effect on charging behaviors at other areas. Once the multipactor is triggered by adequate initial electrons released from cathode, the surface will be charged spontaneously even if the field emission process at cathode is terminated, implying the generation of secondary electrons turns into a self-sustaining process. This study strongly supports the speculation in our previous publications regarding the mechanisms of stable luminescence preceding flashover, which is attributed to be initialized by Fowler-Nordheim emission of electrons at CTJ and finally generated by the radiative de-excitation of excited atoms/molecules in the self-stabilizing secondary electron emission (SSEE) process.

Experimental investigation of surface charge accumulation behaviors on PTFE insulator under DC and impulse voltage in vacuum

Surface charge accumulated on insulators plays an important role in flashover process in vacuum, which has not yet been fully understood. In this paper, charging behaviors on insulator surface were experimentally examined under negative DC and impulse voltage. For the case of DC voltage, two charging stages were observed, i.e., the area near cathode was at first negatively charged under lower voltage (stage I) and then followed by a positively charged cathode-anode surface (stage II). Surface charging at stage I is considered to be caused by Schottky injection of homo-charges from electrode into sample surface layer. While at stage II secondary electron emission (SEE) process is responsible to the positively charged anode-cathode surface. However, charging at stage I is quite sensitive to pre-stress process, as well as the electrode-insulator interface conditions. The ongoing injection of electrons from cathode can lead to gradually decreasing in surface charge accumulation as the voltage duration increases. For the case of impulse voltage, Schottky injection of homo-charges has little influence on surface charging as the time is too short for charge injection and migration in surface layer. The SEE process will govern surface charging due to its extremely fast establishment process. A good linear relationship is obtained between saturated surface charge density and applied voltage, which is generally consistent with the numerical calculation result based on secondary electron emission avalanche theory. At last, it is confirmed that the ionization of desorbed gas from insulator surface and subsequent neutralization of electrons with positive surface charge is the main cause to eliminate surface charge in flashover.

Geant4 simulation of a conceptual calorimeter based on secondary electron emission

We present a conceptual sampling electromagnetic calorimeter based on secondary electron emission process. The secondary electron emission process was implemented in Geant4 as a user physics class, which accurately reproduces the energy spectrum and yield of secondary electrons for thin metals. The simulation results for the response linearity and energy resolution are compared with that of a scintillation calorimeter. The response and energy resolution of the calorimeter were obtained for electron energies up to 50 GeV . The response linearity to electromagnetic showers is to within 1.5%, whereas the energy resolution is σ/E = (44%) GeV1/2/√E for 2.5 cm sampling of iron absorber.

Effect of ion nonthermality on nonlinear dust acoustic wave propagation in a complex plasma in presence of secondary electron emission

In this paper we have investigated the effect of ion nonthermality on nonlinear dust acoustic wave propagation in a complex plasma in presence of secondary electron emission considering equilibrium dust charge positive. In space and astrophysical plasmas presence of nonthermal ions have been detected by satellite observations. This ion nonthermality modifies propagation characteristics of dust acoustic waves when dust grains are charged by secondary electron emission mechanism. In case of dust charging by secondary electron emission process two stable equilibrium dust charge states exist out of which one is negative and the other is positive. Here we have considered positive equilibrium dust charge state and both adiabatic and nonadiabatic dust charge variation. Our investigation shows that characteristics of both dust acoustic soliton and dust acoustic shock depend on the strength of the ion nonthermality along with secondary electron yield. Increase in both ion nonthermality and secondary electron yield help to retain the shape of compressive dust acoustic soliton when dust charge variation is adiabatic and to maintain oscillation of the dust acoustic shock when dust charge variation is nonadiabatic.

Luminescence evolution from alumina ceramic surface before flashover under direct and alternating current voltage in vacuum

The luminescence evolution phenomena from alumina ceramic surface in vacuum under high voltage of direct and alternating current are reported, with the voltage covering a large range from far below to close to the flashover voltage. Its time resolved and spatial distributed behaviors are examined by a photon counting system and an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) together with a digital camera, respectively. The luminescence before flashover exhibits two stages as voltage increasing, i.e., under a relative low voltage (Stage A), the luminescence is ascribed to radiative recombination of hetero-charges injected into the sample surface layer by Schottky effect; under a higher voltage (Stage B), a stable secondary electron emission process, resulting from the Fowler-Nordheim emission at the cathode triple junction (CTJ), is responsible for the luminescence. Spectrum analysis implies that inner secondary electrons within the surface layer of alumina generated during the SSEE process also participate in the luminescence of Stage B. A comprehensive interpretation of the flashover process is formulated, which might promote a better understanding of flashover issue in vacuum.

Effect of Electron and/or Ion Nonthermality on Dust Acoustic Wave Propagation in a Complex Plasma in Presence of Positively Charged Dust Grains Generated by Secondary Electron Emission Process

In this paper we have developed a model to study the role of both electron and ion nonthermalities on dust acoustic wave propagation in a complex plasma in presence of positively charged dust grains. Secondary electron emission from dust grains has been considered as the source of positive dust charging. As secondary emission current depends on the flux of primary electrons, nonthermality of primary electrons changes the expression of secondary emission current from that of earlier work where primary electrons were thermal. Expression of nonthermal electron current flowing to the positively charged dust grains and consequently the expression of secondary electron current flowing out of the dust grains have been first time calculated in this paper, whereas the expression for nonthermal ion current flowing to the positively charged dust grains is present in existing literature. Dispersion relation of dust acoustic wave has been derived. From this dispersion relation real frequency and growth rate of the wave have been calculated. Results have been plotted for different strength of nonthermalities of electrons and ions.

FORMULA FOR MAXIMUM SECONDARY ELECTRON YIELD FROM METALS

Based on free-electron model, the calculated inelastic mean escape depth of secondary electrons, experimental one, the energy band of metal, the characteristics and processes of secondary electron emission, maximum number of secondary electrons released per primary electron δ(Φ,EF)PEm as a function of parameter Km, work function Φ and Fermi energy EF was deduced, where Km is a constant for a given metal in the energy range 100–800 eV. According to the relationship between maximum secondary electron yield from metal δ(Φ,EF)m and δ(Φ,EF)PEm, the formula for δ(Φ,EF)m as a function of atomic number Z, parameter Km, Φ and EF was deduced. Using the deduced formula for δ(Φ,EF)m, Z, experimental δ(Φ,EF)m, Φ and EF, Km relative to alkali metals, Km relative to earth-alkali metals and the mean value of Km were computed, respectively. And the formulae for maximum secondary electron yield from alkali metals, earth-alkali metals and metals were obtained and proved to be true, respectively. On the basis of the deduced formula for δ(Φ,EF)m and the empirical relation that high Φ are connected with high EF, it can be concluded that high δ(Φ,EF)m are connected with high Φ and vice versa.

Study of Secondary Electron Emission Depended on Surface Charge of Space Insulator Materials

Secondary electron emission (SEE) processes play an essential role in spacecraft surface charging. It is difficult to study SEE of insulator whose surface cumulates charges by incident electron bombardment because of poor conductivity. This paper investigated the theoretical process of generation, transfer and escape of secondary electrons, and finally the paper presented a mathematical model to calculate the secondary electron emission. We also have improved measurement system to measure total SEE coefficient from dielectric with 1-5 keV electron irradiation which is perfectly fit to mathematical model, and the SEE coefficient with different surface charging is investigated. The results indicate the SEE coefficient decreases with positive charging and increase with negative charging of dielectric surface.

Surface dielectric barrier discharges exhibiting field emission at high pressures

Surface dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) are investigated experimentally in CO2 from atmospheric pressure up to supercritical conditions. Two discharge regimes are generated using 10 kHz ac excitation. The ‘standard’ regime is similar to previously studied surface DBDs in terms of onset voltage as a function of pressure, as well as electrical and optical emission characteristics. However, a ‘field-emitting’ regime emerges starting from 0.7 MPa that exhibits constant onset voltage up to 7.9 MPa, purely continuum emission spectra in the visible/near-infrared range and current waveforms similar to an atmospheric-pressure Townsend discharge with ionization instabilities. The maximum amount of negative charge deposited as a function of the applied voltage amplitude is consistent with the Fowler–Nordheim equation, which demonstrates the presence of field emission. Furthermore, this behavior cannot be attributed to the Townsend or streamer ionization mechanisms, secondary electron emission or non-discharge processes. No field-emitting structures are specially added to the electrodes. The onset voltage of the field-emitting regime does not follow the modified Paschen's law for field emission-assisted breakdown.

Two contributions to the ratio of the mean secondary electron generation of backscattered electrons to primary electrons at high electron energy

Based on the main physical processes of secondary electron emission, experimental results and the characteristics of backscattered electrons (BE), the formula was derived for describing the ratio (βangle) of the number of secondary electrons excited by the larger average angle of emission BE to the number of secondary electrons excited by the primary electrons of normal incidence. This ratio was compared to the similar ratio β obtained in the case of high energy primary electrons. According to the derived formula for βangleand the two reasons why β > 1, the formula describing the ratio βenergyof β to βangle, reflecting the effect that the mean energy of the BE WAV p0is smaller than the energy of the primary electrons at the surface, was derived. βangleand βenergycomputed using the experimental results and the deduced formulae for βangleand βenergywere analyzed. It is concluded that βangleis not dependent on atomic number z, and that βenergydecreases slowly with z. On the basis of the two reasons why β > 1, the definitions of β and βenergyand the number of secondary electrons released per primary electron, the formula for βE-energy(the estimated βenergy) was deduced. The βE-energycomputed using WAV p0, energy exponent and the formula for βE-energyis in a good agreement with βenergycomputed using the experimental results and the deduced formula for βenergy. Finally, it is concluded that the deduced formulae for βangleand βenergycan be used to estimate βangleand βenergy, and that the factor that WAV p0increases slowly with atomic number z leads to the results that βenergydecreases slowly with z and β decreases slowly with z.

Characterization of millimeter magnitude atmospheric pressure glow discharge in pin-to-plane dielectric barrier discharge

Discharge mode in pin-to-plane dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure was investigated by means of the electrical measurement, the photo-electricity and the fast macro photography. The discharge was operated in atmospheric air. Streamer and glow discharge were generated in the positive half-period and negative half-period of discharge respectively with a 10 kHz AC power supply when the applied voltage reached a high value. The subject of this paper is the study of the characterization of the glow discharge. It was found that the glow discharge have the hierarchical structure, although the discharge gap is small (only 0.9 mm). The positive column is shortened as the distance of discharge gap decreases, but the dimensions of other discharge area do not change. The discharge current waveform illustrates that the positive half-period discharge current is very short, which is streamer current waveform, and the negative half-period one is longer, which is glow discharge current waveform. The photo-electricity signal waveform corresponds with discharge current waveform. Two main glow discharge generating reasons are proposed in this paper. One is a sufficient number of space charge produced in the very uneven electric field around needle electrode; the other is the effective secondary electron emission process on the exposed needle electrode.

Theoretical and simulation research on self-stabilizing secondary electron emission process across solid dielectrics in vacuum

Recently, the cathode-like luminescence phenomena are observed from the surface of solid dielectrics under steady-state high voltage excitation in vacuum, which is closely related to the self-stabilizing secondary electron emission (SSEE) occurring on insulator surface. In this paper, the theoretical analysis about surface charging based on the SSEE is made, and a one-dimensional Mont Carlo simulation on surface charge accumulation under DC voltage excitation is provided. The results reveal that surface charging process can be divided into three stages including initial accumulation, fast multiplication, and final stable stage. In the final stage, the SSEE phenomena are achieved and surface charges are invariable and reach up to a stable distribution. The simulated stable surface charge distribution is consistent with the theoretical deduction results, which confirms the existence of SSEE process.

Model of secondary electron emission at high incident electron energy for metal

The models of the true secondary electron emission and backscattered electron emission for metal are provided, based on the physical process of secondary electron emission from metal at high incident electron energy. The formula for the true secondary electron yield at high incident electron energy is derived with the Bethe equation known to provide accurate and simple analytical expressions for the stopping power and the probability that a secondary electron produced in a material reaches the surface and is emitted into the vacuum. The formula for the backscattered electron yield at high incident electron energy is derived with the absorbing rule for the incident electron in the material. All the above results lead to a new model for secondary electron emission from metal at high incident electron energy. The secondary electron yields of Au, Ag, Cu and Al derived with the new model are in good agreement with the results obtained from the scatters process simulation code-Casino.