Energy Spectrum of Slow Monoenergetic Electrons Reflected by Stainless Steel

The energy spectra of monoenergetic electrons reflected from a surface of stainless steel have been measured. In the spectra one may detect two types of energy losses: (i) weak and multiple losses which may be associated with the weakly adsorbed phase of the residual gas of the vacuum system; (ii) strong and discrete losses caused by chemisorbed molecules on the surface. The values of these discrete energy losses are compatible with a model of molecular structure of the chemisorbed species on the surface.