Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs
Publication Date
Fall 2020
Abstract
This thesis discusses the material properties of metals and alloys through a Density Functional Theory (DFT) perspective. It also establishes computational procedures necessary to predict the Secondary Electron Yield (SEY) from first principles. First, DFT calculations were carried out to calculate material properties important in the secondary electron generation and emission process, such as work function, Fermi energy, density of states, and more importantly, frequency- and momentum-dependent energy loss functions. These material properties are then used in Monte Carlo simulations to produce the energy-dependent SEY for CuNi and CuZn alloys, as well for the component metals Cu, Ni, and Zn. The purpose of these calculations is to further understand the influence of the electronic structure and materials’ composition on the secondary electron generation and emission. SEY is one of the key factors that influences the multipactor effect, which induces an electron avalanche, harmful to high power microwave devices. The results and discussion in this work also aim at shedding light on the SEY mechanism and on the material properties that contribute to the multipactor effect.
Keywords
multipactor, secondary electron yield, density functional theory, energy loss function, inelastic mean free paths
Document Type
Thesis
Language
English
Degree Name
Electrical Engineering
Level of Degree
Masters
Department Name
Electrical and Computer Engineering
First Committee Member (Chair)
Edl Schamiloglu
Second Committee Member
Ivana Matanovic
Third Committee Member
Mark Gilmore
Recommended Citation
Gutierrez, Raul Enrique. "A First Principles Study of Secondary Electron Yield of Metals and Alloys: Cu, Ni, Zn, CuNi, and CuZn." (2020). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/ece_etds/750