A team of researchers from TU Wien has shed new light on the behavior of electrons fleeing a solid material.
Their research solves a long-standing mystery in condensed matter physics. When a material is bombarded with electrons, this transfers energy, allowing other electrons within the solid material to escape.
This secondary electron emission mechanism is leveraged in many technologies today, including photomultiplier tubes, scanning electron microscopes, and cathode ray tubes. However, until now, scientists haven’t been able to predict which specific electrons would escape from a given material.
The new study reveals the critical role of “doorway states”, which dictate the electrons that can leave a solid material.
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