Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 July 2020
We have measured the secondary electron yield curve for liquid water using an Environmental SEM. The secondary electron emission coefficient, measured as a function of incident electron energy, is important for interpreting contrast in hydrated biological and inorganic specimens. This information is even more critical for water than other materials, as it is a factor of prime importance in understanding radiation damage in biological tissues.[1]
These measurements were taken using a Philips XL-30 field emission ,ESEM, and repeated on an Electroscan E3 ESEM, equipped with a CeB6 filament. A specially designed Faraday cup was fashioned from brass and fitted with a removable graphite cup having an inset for a platinum aperture. This assembly was placed into an electrically floating Peltier cooling stage, and connected to a KE Instruments probe current meter.
[1] Ritchie, R.H., et al, Physical and Chemical Mechanisms in Molecular Radiation Biology, Glass, W.A. and Varma, M.N., eds.. Plenum (1991) 99–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[2] Thiel, B.L., et al,. J. Microscopy, 187 (1997) 143–157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[3] Suszcynsky, D.M. and Borovsky, J.E., J. Geophys. Res., 97 (1992) 2611–2619.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[4] Burke, E.A., IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci., NS-72 (1980) 1760-1764.Google Scholar