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Principles of electron tunneling spectroscopy
Mat. Res. B u l l . , Vol. 21, p p . 503-504, 1986. P r i n t e d i n t h e USA. 0025-5408/86 $3.00 + .00 C o p y r i g h t (c) 1986 P e r g a m o n P r e s s L t d .
BOOK REVIEWS
Principles of Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy, by E.L. Wolf. Oxford University Press, New York (1985), 576 pp. Price: $80.00 ISBN 0-19-503417-1 Over the l a s t t w e n t y - f i v e years or so, electron tunneling has moved from the periphery to occupy an increasingly central research role in both fundamental and applied condensed matter physics. This development is i l l u s t r a t e d by the excitement generated within the last three years by the r e a l i z a t i o n of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). This new technique and the related scanning spectroscopy are capable of d i r e c t imaging of surface features with an atomic resolution. Wolf's monograph performs a very commendable service in systematic surveying, with s u f f i c i e n t d e t a i l , both the theoretical analyses and the experimental r e a l i z a t i o n of the many new and/or improved electron tunneling spectroscopies that have been developed since the last two comprehensive single author reviews of the f i e l d by Duke (1969) and Solymar (1972). The unified point of view and welcome c r i t i c a l a t t i t u d e reveal the continued active involvement of the author in experimental tunneling spectroscopy. Wolf also has benef i t t e d from his experience in authoring three e a r l i e r , less comprehensive, reviews in 1975, 1978, and 1982. However, in his commendable concern to include a l l relevant and current developments, the author has occasionally relaxed the high standards of his review. This applies p a r t i c u l a r l y to the rather sketchy and by now already obsolete discussion of the STM. Fundamental topics in tunneling theory and in tunneling spectroscopy that were omitted include: tunneling time, study of dynamic screening e f f e c t s and microstructure of the image potential b a r r i e r , tunneling study of bound states in the image p o t e n t i a l , and photo-enhanced f i e l d emission. These shortcomings are, however, r e l a t i v e l y minor, and do not seriously a f f e c t the value of the book. The Principles of Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy is recommended both as an introduction to t h i s e x c i t i n g f i e l d and as a tool for researchers already active in electron tunneling spectroscopy. T.E. Feuchtwang The Pennsylvania SLate University University Park, PA, U.S.A.
503
BOOK REVIEWS
Principles of Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy, by E.L. Wolf. Oxford University Press, New York (1985), 576 pp. Price: $80.00 ISBN 0-19-503417-1 Over the l a s t t w e n t y - f i v e years or so, electron tunneling has moved from the periphery to occupy an increasingly central research role in both fundamental and applied condensed matter physics. This development is i l l u s t r a t e d by the excitement generated within the last three years by the r e a l i z a t i o n of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). This new technique and the related scanning spectroscopy are capable of d i r e c t imaging of surface features with an atomic resolution. Wolf's monograph performs a very commendable service in systematic surveying, with s u f f i c i e n t d e t a i l , both the theoretical analyses and the experimental r e a l i z a t i o n of the many new and/or improved electron tunneling spectroscopies that have been developed since the last two comprehensive single author reviews of the f i e l d by Duke (1969) and Solymar (1972). The unified point of view and welcome c r i t i c a l a t t i t u d e reveal the continued active involvement of the author in experimental tunneling spectroscopy. Wolf also has benef i t t e d from his experience in authoring three e a r l i e r , less comprehensive, reviews in 1975, 1978, and 1982. However, in his commendable concern to include a l l relevant and current developments, the author has occasionally relaxed the high standards of his review. This applies p a r t i c u l a r l y to the rather sketchy and by now already obsolete discussion of the STM. Fundamental topics in tunneling theory and in tunneling spectroscopy that were omitted include: tunneling time, study of dynamic screening e f f e c t s and microstructure of the image potential b a r r i e r , tunneling study of bound states in the image p o t e n t i a l , and photo-enhanced f i e l d emission. These shortcomings are, however, r e l a t i v e l y minor, and do not seriously a f f e c t the value of the book. The Principles of Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy is recommended both as an introduction to t h i s e x c i t i n g f i e l d and as a tool for researchers already active in electron tunneling spectroscopy. T.E. Feuchtwang The Pennsylvania SLate University University Park, PA, U.S.A.
503