Light emission from surfaces, thin films and particles induced by high-energy electron beam

• Published in: Surface and interface analysis 2001-02, Vol.31 (2), p.79-86
• Main Authors: Yamamoto, N., Araya, K., Toda, A., Sugiyama, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; light; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of specific thin films; Optical properties of specific thin films, surfaces, and low-dimensional structures; Physics; plasmon; transition radiation; transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 0142-2421; 1096-9918
• DOI: 10.1002/sia.958

Light emission generated by a high‐energy electron passing through surfaces, thin films and particles of several materials were studied using a light detection system combined with a transmission electron microscope with an accelerating voltage of 200 kV. A silver film with a rough surface gives rise to inhomogeneous intensity distribution in the photon maps, which is due to the coupling of light with the non‐radiative surface plasmon mode through the surface roughness. In the case of a rough surface of a silver film with a granular structure, light is strongly emitted from a localized region with high polarization. The emissions from silver particles with various diameters were observed. The emission spectra show multiple peaks corresponding to the multipole modes of the electromagnetic oscillation in the spherical particle. The results can be explained well by the theory involving the retardation effect. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.