Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Fine structure in the energy distribution of secondary electrons "back-scattered" from a graphite crystal surface is resolved and shown to be consequence of inelastic electron-electron scattering in which the dominant process is the population of final states above the vacuum level by electron-hole pair production via screened-Coulombic interaction between the incident primary electrons and the valence electrons in the solid. The scattering theory of Kane is applicable and emphasizes that features due to one-electron density of final states should be resolvable in experimental secondary-electron-emission spectra of crystals. Experimental results are presented, which provide strong support for this view. Previous measurements on graphite have been extended and weak secondary-electron-emission structure, resolved in the second derivative of the energy-distribution spectrum, is reported for kinetic energies, 10E₊₈₍40 eV. Maxima are observed at 16. 2, 22. 2, 29. 2, 31. 2, 36. 2, and 40. 7 0. 5 eV above the Fermi energy. Details are presented of a first-principles high-energy band-structure calculation of graphite extending over a 80-eV energy range. The observed spectral features correlate closely with final-density-of-states maxima as predicted by the theory.
Willis et al. (1974) studied this question.