New Method Allows for Direct Observation of Slow Electrons in Material

Friday - May 17 2024, 11:59 UTC - 6 months ago

A new method developed by scientists at TU Wien in Austria allows for the direct observation of slow electrons in materials, providing valuable insights that were previously inaccessible experimentally. By using fast electrons to generate slow electrons within the material, researchers can measure their energy simultaneously and obtain data on their behavior. This method has shown that the release of slow electrons in solid materials occurs in a distinct two-step process, contrary to previous beliefs. This development has the potential to greatly advance our understanding and applications of slow electrons.

Slow electrons are used in cancer therapy as well as in microelectronic technologies. These electrons can behave differently depending on their energy levels and can produce various effects when shot into a solid body. However, measuring the behavior of slow electrons in solid materials has been a challenge for scientists, limiting their understanding of these particles. Now, a team at TU Wien in Austria has developed a new method that allows for the direct observation of slow electrons in materials.

Leading the team is Professor Wolfgang Werner from the Institute of Applied Physics at TU Wien. He explains, "We are interested in what the slow electrons do inside a material, for example inside a crystal or inside a living cell. To find out, you would actually have to build a mini-laboratory directly in the material to be able to measure directly on site. But that's not possible, of course." .

The new method involves using fast electrons to generate slow electrons directly within the material. This allows for details to be deciphered that were previously inaccessible experimentally. By simultaneously measuring the energy of the fast electron when it leaves the material and the energy of the slow electrons that are released at the same time, researchers can obtain valuable information about the behavior of slow electrons in solid materials.

The data collected can be used to calculate how deeply the fast electron has penetrated the material, providing information about the depth at which the slow electrons were released from their place. This can then be used to determine how the slow electrons release their energy in the material, allowing for the validation of numerical theories.

The results of the study were surprising, as it was previously thought that the release of electrons in the material occurred in a cascade. However, the experiments showed that the slow electrons were only released at specific points in the material and were triggered by the release of electrical charges. Professor Wolfgang Werner states, "At first, the slow electrons are only released at very specific points in the material. It is only in a second step – presumably triggered by the fact that we release electrical charges – that the electrons detach themselves from these points and spread through the material." .

This new method has the potential to greatly advance our understanding of slow electrons in solid materials and can lead to new discoveries and applications in various technologies. With this development, scientists will be able to directly observe the behavior of slow electrons, rather than relying on indirect methods.