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.