secondary electron emission

Secondary electron emission occurs when a material's surface releases electrons after being struck by a primary energetic particle, such as an electron or ion. When these high-energy particles hit the surface, they transfer energy to electrons within the material, causing some to overcome the surface barrier and escape as secondary electrons. This process is influenced by the energy and type of the incoming particle and the properties of the material. Secondary electron emission plays a key role in technologies like electron microscopy, vacuum tubes, and space physics, affecting how surfaces respond to energetic particle interactions.