HOT-ELECTRON TRANSMISSION THROUGH METAL-METAL INTERFACES - A STUDY OFAU FE/AU TRILAYERS ON GAAS SUBSTRATES/

Hot-electron scattering at metal-metal interfaces has been studied in the case of Au/Fe/Au trilayers where the thickness of Fe is varied bet ween 0 and 10 Angstrom, using Ballistic Electron Emission Microscopy ( BEEM). It has been found that the presence of the Fe layer sandwiched between the Au layers causes a considerable reduction of electrons tra nsmitted through the structure. It is likely that the losses are prima rily due to the strong scattering at the metal-metal interfaces and th e BEEM technique is highly sensitive to such scattering. A Monte Carlo simulation has been carried out in the case of ideal interface struct ures and the results indicate that the interface scattering is a domin ant factor. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.