Interaction of Low-Energy Electrons with Ferroelectric Materials

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Abstract
Some of the effects of low-energy electron bombardment on BaTiO3 and triglycine sulfate have been investigated. It is found that the secondary electron emission characteristics allow one to reverse the spontaneous polarization in these materials when the energy of the bombarding electrons is varied through the first crossover. The switching time is determined by the rate at which charge can be built up on the bombarded surface and is limited by the primary electron beam current density. The two stable surface states characteristic of insulators are clearly seen, and transitions between the two can be made without reversing the polarization. There is no indication that the secondary electron yield in the neighborhood of the first crossover depends on the direction of the spontaneous polarization in the ferroelectric material. The resistivities of triglycine sulfate and BaTiO3 have been estimated from the switching transients. These materials exhibit a deterioration in their ferroelectric properties with time of electron bombardment.