A Combined Model of Charging of the Surface and Bulk of a Dielectric Target by Electrons with the Energies 10–30 keV

Abstract

A physico-mathematical model of the processes of radiation-induced charging of dielectric materials with open surfaces, irradiated with monoenergetic electrons in the energy range 10–30 keV, is described. The model takes into account the relationship between the processes of surface and bulk charging for the given conditions of the experimental design, which accounts for the effect of anomalously long charging of dielectrics after the incident energy of primary electrons during charging is reduced to below the second critical energy for the secondary electronic emission coefficient. The initial fast phase of charging a high-resistivity dielectric material (Al₂O₃) is investigated. It is shown that as the incident electron energy is approaching the second critical energy during charging, the secondary electronic emission is partially suppressed due to negative charging of the open surface of the dielectric and formation of a near-surface inversion electrical field retarding the electronic emission yield.