CXXXIX. The physical nature of a metal surface in conduction theory
- 1 December 1954
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Computers in Education
- Vol. 45 (371), 1237-1246
- https://doi.org/10.1080/14786441208561132
Abstract
A metal electron striking the surface of the metal from inside will be reflected into the metal. In the present paper this process of reflection will be treated as a phenomenon of electron diffraction. The atoms in a metal surface form a regular array, and this array may be considered as a cross-grating. As all free electrons in a metal have practically the same (Fermi) energy, their wavelength is uniform, and the ratio between this wavelength and the cube-edge of a face- or body-centred cubic lattice can be calculated. This gives a relation between the electron wave-length and the dimensions of the cross-grating, and formulae for the distribution of intensity over the various orders of diffraction can be derived. The main result is that the specular reflection is generally suppressed over a wide range of angles of incidence. This is true for any angle between the crystal axes and the surface. Generally most of the intensity is deflected to the first order of diffraction, but in the case of glancing electrons (i.e. electrons striking the surface at very small angles) most of the reflected intensity is found at a direction almost perpendicular to the surface.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- The mean free path of electrons in metalsAdvances in Physics, 1952
- The surface impedance of superconductors and normal metals at high frequencies II. The anomalous skin effect in normal metalsProceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 1947