Differential sample charging in ESCA

An ESCA study of some “intermediate” conductors demonstrates a differential charging effect when the sample block is biased. The variation of the intensity and width of the peak from silver 3d electrons in silver iodide is used to show how the flux of the beam, the conductivity of the sample, the size and polarity of the bias and the grid mounting alter the effect. The results suggest that in unbiased samples differential sample charging contributes significantly to the width of peaks.