(Electronic and structural properties of individual nanometer-size supported metallic clusters)

Technical Report · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5871939· OSTI ID:5871939

Reifenberger, R

The research supported by this Department of Energy contract has primarily been devoted to the study of the electronic properties of surfaces with sub-micron size. In previous years, we have studied the photoexcitation of electrons from field emission tips by a focussed Argon-ion laser beam tuned to operate at specific photon energy. The photoexcited electrons escape into the vacuum by tunneling through a surface potential barrier which is distorted by the application of a strong electric field. The interest in these experiments lies in a better understanding of the photoexcitation process at low photon energies. The techniques that have been developed directly measure the excited state energy distribution of electrons emitted through the surface potential barrier. The basic information gained from this research is relevant to opto-electronic devices which rely on photoexcitation of electrons in the presence of strong interfacial electric fields for their operation. In addition, the work is very relevant to recent developments in vacuum microelectronic devices that are based on electron emission from arrays of sharp tips.

• Research Organization: Purdue Univ., Lafayette, IN (United States). Dept. of Physics
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-84ER45162
• OSTI ID: 5871939
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/45162-6; ON: DE92005571
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360102 -- Metals & Alloys-- Structure & Phase Studies
360104 -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
665300* -- Interactions Between Beams & Condensed Matter-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
LASER RADIATION
METALS
PHOTOEMISSION
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIATIONS
SECONDARY EMISSION
SOLID CLUSTERS
SURFACES