CLspectroscopy

CLspectroscopy, or Cathodoluminescence Spectroscopy, is an optical spectroscopy technique that analyzes the light emitted from a material when it is excited by an electron beam. When electrons strike a sample, they interact with the material's atoms and generate photons. The spectrum of these emitted photons provides information about the sample's electronic structure, composition, and defects.

The process typically involves an electron gun, similar to those used in scanning electron microscopes, to generate a focused electron beam. This beam is directed onto the sample. As the electrons penetrate the material, they can excite electrons within the sample's atoms to higher energy levels. When these excited electrons return to their ground state, they release energy in the form of light, known as cathodoluminescence.

This emitted light is then collected by a system of mirrors and lenses and directed into a spectrometer. The spectrometer disperses the light by wavelength, creating a spectrum that can be analyzed. Different materials and different types of defects within a material will emit light at characteristic wavelengths, allowing for their identification and characterization. CLspectroscopy is particularly useful for studying semiconductors, minerals, and other solid-state materials. It can reveal information about impurities, crystal structure, stress, and luminescence centers. The technique is non-destructive, meaning the sample is not permanently altered by the electron beam.