Secondary electron energy distributions for gold as excited by C-K/sub α/ (277 eV) and A1-K/sub α/ (1487 eV) x-rays. Final report, 15 April 1976--14 November 1976

The secondary electron energy distributions for a gold photocathode as excited by C-K/sub α/ (277 eV) and Al-K/sub α/ (1487 eV) x-rays were measured. The shape of the energy distributions are essentially the same for these two x-ray photon excitation energies. For thick, evaporated gold samples on glass substrates (at 1500C and 3 x 10-8 torr), the secondary electron energy distributions peak at about one eV and have a FWHM of about four eV. As measured immediately after ion-cleaning, the distributions peak at about two eV and have a FWHM of about 6.6 eV. Approximately five hours after ion-cleaning, the measured distributions appear as those obtained before ion-cleaning. The work function of the evaporated gold photocathode temporarily increases by one eV upon ion-cleaning