MEASUREMENT OF THE TOTAL ENERGY-DISTRIBUTION IN PHOTOINDUCED FIELD-EMISSION

Accurate measurements of the total energy distribution of excited electrons in photoinduced field emission are needed to determine the mechanism of photo-excitation. Experimental measurements of the total energy distributions involve a correction for instrumental broadening introduced by the energy analyzer. The usual assumption of a symmetric resolution function of gaussian form is not always adequate for a retardation-type energy analyzer. We describe a method, which involves measurements of the total energy distribution in direct field emission, whereby the instrumental broadening can be deconvoluted from the total energy distribution observed in photo-induced field emission. The method also yields an accurate determination of the total energies of photoemitted electrons relative to the Fermi level. The method is illustrated by applying it to deconvolute total energy distributions observed in a preliminary study of the shape of the photopeak in photo-induced field emission. © 1979.