THEORETICAL-STUDY OF THE SECONDARY-ELECTRON EMISSION OF INSULATING TARGETS

We study the electron-induced secondary electron emission of insulatin g targets by a Monte-Carlo simulation method. The most important colli sion mechanisms in the energy domain considered are investigated. The usual approximations apparently overestimate the elastic collision rat e and empirical corrections are proposed. The self-trapping of the cha rges is explained by the polarization of the surrounding medium. The r ole of the polaronic effects in the secondary emission as well as the sensibility of the results to the choice of the different parameters a re analyzed. The influence of an internal electric field caused by a ' 'frozen'' charge distribution is also investigated.