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Title: Modeling electron emission and surface effects from diamond cathodes

Abstract

We developed modeling capabilities, within the Vorpal particle-in-cell code, for three-dimensional simulations of surface effects and electron emission from semiconductor photocathodes. They include calculation of emission probabilities using general, piece-wise continuous, space-time dependent surface potentials, effective mass, and band bending field effects. We applied these models, in combination with previously implemented capabilities for modeling charge generation and transport in diamond, to investigate the emission dependence on applied electric field in the range from approximately 2 MV/m to 17 MV/m along the [100] direction. The simulation results were compared to experimental data. For the considered parameter regime, conservation of transverse electron momentum (in the plane of the emission surface) allows direct emission from only two (parallel to [100]) of the six equivalent lowest conduction band valleys. When the electron affinity χ is the only parameter varied in the simulations, the value χ = 0.31 eV leads to overall qualitative agreement with the probability of emission deduced from experiments. Including band bending in the simulations improves the agreement with the experimental data, particularly at low applied fields, but not significantly. Using surface potentials with different profiles further allows us to investigate the emission as a function of potential barrier height, width, and vacuum level position.more » However, adding surface patches with different levels of hydrogenation, modeled with position-dependent electron affinity, leads to the closest agreement with the experimental data.« less

Authors:
; ;  [1]; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. Tech-X Corporation, Boulder, Colorado 80303 (United States)
  2. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22413073
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 117; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; APPROXIMATIONS; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; DIAMONDS; EFFECTIVE MASS; ELECTRIC FIELDS; ELECTRON EMISSION; ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE; ELECTRONS; HYDROGENATION; PHOTOCATHODES; SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS; SURFACE POTENTIAL; SURFACES; THREE-DIMENSIONAL LATTICES; V CODES

Citation Formats

Dimitrov, D. A., Smithe, D., Cary, J. R., Ben-Zvi, I., Rao, T., Smedley, J., and Wang, E. Modeling electron emission and surface effects from diamond cathodes. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4907393.
Dimitrov, D. A., Smithe, D., Cary, J. R., Ben-Zvi, I., Rao, T., Smedley, J., & Wang, E. Modeling electron emission and surface effects from diamond cathodes. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4907393
Dimitrov, D. A., Smithe, D., Cary, J. R., Ben-Zvi, I., Rao, T., Smedley, J., and Wang, E. 2015. "Modeling electron emission and surface effects from diamond cathodes". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4907393.
@article{osti_22413073,
title = {Modeling electron emission and surface effects from diamond cathodes},
author = {Dimitrov, D. A. and Smithe, D. and Cary, J. R. and Ben-Zvi, I. and Rao, T. and Smedley, J. and Wang, E.},
abstractNote = {We developed modeling capabilities, within the Vorpal particle-in-cell code, for three-dimensional simulations of surface effects and electron emission from semiconductor photocathodes. They include calculation of emission probabilities using general, piece-wise continuous, space-time dependent surface potentials, effective mass, and band bending field effects. We applied these models, in combination with previously implemented capabilities for modeling charge generation and transport in diamond, to investigate the emission dependence on applied electric field in the range from approximately 2 MV/m to 17 MV/m along the [100] direction. The simulation results were compared to experimental data. For the considered parameter regime, conservation of transverse electron momentum (in the plane of the emission surface) allows direct emission from only two (parallel to [100]) of the six equivalent lowest conduction band valleys. When the electron affinity χ is the only parameter varied in the simulations, the value χ = 0.31 eV leads to overall qualitative agreement with the probability of emission deduced from experiments. Including band bending in the simulations improves the agreement with the experimental data, particularly at low applied fields, but not significantly. Using surface potentials with different profiles further allows us to investigate the emission as a function of potential barrier height, width, and vacuum level position. However, adding surface patches with different levels of hydrogenation, modeled with position-dependent electron affinity, leads to the closest agreement with the experimental data.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4907393},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22413073}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
issn = {0021-8979},
number = 5,
volume = 117,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Feb 07 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Sat Feb 07 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}

Works referencing / citing this record:

Enhancing secondary yield of a diamond amplifier using a nitrogen layer
journal, June 2015


A photoemission moments model using density functional and transfer matrix methods applied to coating layers on surfaces: Theory
journal, January 2018


Analytical models of transmission probabilities for electron sources
journal, February 2018


Modeling of diamond field emitter arrays for a compact source of high brightness electron beams
journal, April 2019


Theory of electron transport and emission from a semiconductor nanotip
journal, June 2019


Thermal-field and photoemission from meso- and micro-scale features: Effects of screening and roughness on characterization and simulation
journal, June 2019


Theory of electron transport and emission from a semiconductor nanotip
text, January 2019