OXIDATION AND REDUCTION PROCESSES OF BE BEO INDUCED BY ELECTRONS/

The electron induced oxidation and reduction processes have been studi ed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and scanning Auger electron mi croscopy (SAM). The latter experiments enabled us to confirm an equili brium reaction for the oxidation and reduction depending on the oxygen pressure and the dose of incident electrons. We found an intensified oxidation by exposure to X-rays too. Therefore, we are interpreting th e oxidation and reduction process as Auger electron induced desorption .