Faculty Sponsor(s)
Bill Mackie & Jennifer Heath
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Subject Area
Physics
Description
Electron emitters are essential components in many microscopy systems, including scanning electron microscopes, transmission electron microscopes, and scanning Auger microscopes. One feature of good electron emitter materials is a low surface work function. CeB6 is one such material. Line defects seen in CeB6 affect the work function of the emitting surface, causing the emitted electrons to have a wider spread of energies. This causes chromatic aberration, reducing the resolution of the microscope systems. The purpose of this research is to find the source of these line defects in the CeB6 emitter fabrication process. It was suspected that defects were in the form of oxides deposited from water contamination.This study confirms that the defects do contain more oxygen than other areas of the surface. The source of this oxygen has yet to be determined.
Recommended Citation
Fairhart, Nick, "Line Defects in Single Crystal CeB6 Electron Emitters" (2014). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 57.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2014/all/57
Line Defects in Single Crystal CeB6 Electron Emitters
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Electron emitters are essential components in many microscopy systems, including scanning electron microscopes, transmission electron microscopes, and scanning Auger microscopes. One feature of good electron emitter materials is a low surface work function. CeB6 is one such material. Line defects seen in CeB6 affect the work function of the emitting surface, causing the emitted electrons to have a wider spread of energies. This causes chromatic aberration, reducing the resolution of the microscope systems. The purpose of this research is to find the source of these line defects in the CeB6 emitter fabrication process. It was suspected that defects were in the form of oxides deposited from water contamination.This study confirms that the defects do contain more oxygen than other areas of the surface. The source of this oxygen has yet to be determined.
