Summary
Monte Carlo simulations have been used to assess the accuracy of the retarding-field method used to unfold experimental electron energy distributions. It is shown that electron reflection at the electrode and extrapolation to zero energy of experimental data can explain, at least in part, the observed agreement between experimental and calculated energy distributions. Reasons for the good but not perfect agreement between theory and experiments in Ar at elevatedE/N are discussed, together with the intrinsic limitations of the experimental retarding-field technique.
Riassunto
L’accuratezza del metodo del «potenziale ritardante» comunemente utilizzato per la derivazione sperimentale di distribuzioni energetiche elettroniche è studiata con simulazioni Monte Carlo. Si mostra che la riflessione elettronica all’anodo e l’usuale estrapolazione ad energia zero dei dati sperimentali possono spiegare, almeno in parte, l’accordo osservato tra teoria ed esperienza. Le ragioni del buono, ma non perfetto, accordo in Ar ad elevatiE/N sono discusse in dettaglio unitamente alle limitazioni della tecnica sperimentale.
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We assumer(ε)≤1 for the electron energies of our interest and identifyr(ε) with the probability to have elastic reflection. However, secondary emission can maker(ε)>1 at higher energies and, in particular, particle conservation at the anode invalid.
Real reflection coefficients justify the assumptions of this paper. See, for instance,I. M. Bronschtein andS. B. Fraiman:Secondary Emission of Electrons (Nauka, Moscow, 1969), p. 59.
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Braglia, G.L., Romanò, L. & Diligenti, M. On the accuracy of experimental electron energy distributions in gases. Nuov Cim B 85, 193–207 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02721560
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02721560