Electron Spectroscopy

Electron spectroscopy is the generic name given to a handful of individual techniques based upon the analysis of electron energies following a collision between an impacting particle or photon and an atom, molecules, or solids. The individual techniques are listed below

1. Photoelectron Spectroscopy (ultraviolet excitation)
2. Photoelectron Spectroscopy (X-ray excitation)
3. Auger Electron Spectroscopy
4. Ion Neutralization Spectroscopy
5. Penning Ionization Spectroscpy
6. Electron Impact Energy Loss Spectroscopy
7. Autoionization Electron Spectroscopy
8. Resonance Electron Capture
9. Electron Transmission Spectroscopy

The rapid growth in recent years of basic and application studies using electron spectroscopy can partly be attributed to a belated interaction between scientist working in quite different areas, but using electron spectroscopy, thus providing the means of exchanging ideas and techniques. The areas in which applications have been found is remarkably wide, covering all cases in the gaseous or solid state including surfaces, where elemental analysis or a knowledge of chemical bonding and electron structure is required. It complements other techniques over this wide range, but does not have the general applicability in any one area that, for instance, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance which offers in organic chemistry.

The branches of electron spectroscopy were developed more or less independently, often by groups working in diverse area, example for molecular spectroscopy as opposed to surface physics. In other hands, there is a factor which has an advance in the development of electron spectroscopy. Technology and design of instrumentation also have an influence for some experiments doing with electron spectroscopy.

Whereas experiments in the past were frustrated for lack of high resolution energy analyzers, sensitive electron detections systems, or a sufficiently good vacuum for meaningful results, today areas with which to implement bright or not so bright ideas.