Light emission from surfaces, thin films and particles induced by high-energy electron beam

Light emission generated by a high-energy electron passing through surfaces , thin films and particles of several materials were studied using a light detection system combined with a transmission electron microscope with an a ccelerating voltage of 200 kV. A silver film with a rough surface gives ris e to inhomogeneous intensity distribution in the photon maps, which is due to the coupling of light with the non-radiative surface plasmon mode throug h the surface roughness. In the case of a rough surface of a silver film wi th a granular structure, light is strongly emitted from a localized region with high polarization. The emissions from silver particles with various di ameters were observed. The emission spectra show multiple peaks correspondi ng to the multipole modes of the electromagnetic oscillation in the spheric al particle. The results can be explained well by the theory involving the retardation effect. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.