Simple calculation of energy distribution of low-energy secondary electrons emitted from metals under electron bombardment

Abstract

A simple theoretical calculation is given in which the energy distribution of low-energy secondary electrons emitted from metals is derived. The main feature of the calculation is an energy-dependent electron mean free path. The theory predicts that the peak of the energy distribution occurs at a value of the secondary electron energy equal to φ/3, where φ is the metal work function. © 1974 American Institute of Physics.