Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy based on secondary electron emission from carbon foil

Abstract

Using the emission of secondary electron (SE) from a thin carbon foil in transmission geometry guided by a strong radial electric field in the region between the foil and the sample under investigation, a new variable energy positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) system is being implemented. To this end, the SE emission from a carbon foil of 30nm thick has been investigated in transmission geometry. Considerable emission of SE from the foil with peak energy of about 5eV is observed. We have found that both the energy loss and dispersion of the positrons after transmission through the carbon foil are small enough for the proposed positron lifetime-depth profiling PALS system to be realised. These experimental results and the timing simulations of Cai et. al. [1] indicate that the proposed variable PALS based on secondary electrons generated by carbon foil have a high time resolution.