Photoemission spectroscopy: Fundamental aspects

Abstract

Over the past five decades, photoemission has become one of the most popular spectroscopies for investigating matter in its various aggregation states. It finds its application in fields ranging from solid state physics to chemistry, biology and geology, just to mention a few. The number of researchers who need to be introduced to this field is ever increasing, and the spectrum of backgrounds that they possess is very large. Aim of this chapter is to provide for all of them a basic introduction to the models upon which photoemission is based and, by the help of simple examples, to explain what information photoemission can provide.