Electron Spectroscopy: Many Applications for Many Scientific Frontiers

In 1974 an X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Gordon Research Conference was held at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, to discuss the interpretation of results from atomic physics, solid-state physics, and inorganic, organic, and analytical chemistry. The XPS technique, also known as electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), evolved from instrumentation and the publication in the 1950s and 1960s of numerous results from Kai Siegbahn’s group at the University of Uppsala. (Siegbahn was awarded a Nobel Prize in physics in 1981 for his XPS accomplishments.) Commercial XPS instruments became available in 1969, and the 1974 GRC was a timely opportunity to discuss interpretational issues associated with the emerging technique.

The 1974 GRC on XPS evolved into Electron Spectroscopy Gordon Conferences that were held from 1976 to 1998 at two-year intervals. Although more than half of the 1976 conference was devoted to XPS topics, new topics were also included, ranging from photoelectron micro-scopy to low-energy electron diffraction, Auger-electron spectroscopy, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure. Presenters also discussed industrial applications of XPS and the use of XPS to identify unwanted surface species and reactions on pollutant particles in the atmo-sphere.

In subsequent years results from newly emerging electron spectroscopy techniques were discussed. These techniques made available such new information as the atomic structure in the outermost atomic layers of surfaces; the bonding configurations of atoms and molecules at surfaces and interfaces; surface chemical reactions; electronic excitations and dynamics in atoms, molecules, ions, solids, and liquids; high-resolution electron micro-scopy and microanalysis; and characterizations of atomic and molecular clusters. The presentations and discussions in these areas included the recent scientific advances and applications in catalysis, corrosion, microelectronics, magnetism, growth and characterization of thin films, high-temperature superconductors, and what would now be termed nanotechnology. Issues of interest were the fundamental properties and processes of ideal materials (e.g., atoms, molecules, and single-crystal surfaces) and similar properties and processes on materials of practical interest.

The discussions at the Electron Spectroscopy Gordon Conferences were extremely stimulating. Attending the conference were leading atomic and molecular scientists and solid-state and surface scientists who did not ordinarily attend each other’s meetings. There was a mix of theorists and experimentalists with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, and materials science. I benefited greatly by learning about concepts and applications outside my background and by getting new ideas for my own research.

I served as a member of the GRC board of trustees from 1982 to 1986 and as chairman from 1985 to 1986. My term as chairman coincided with the transition of the GRC office from paper records for scientists applying and registering to attend a Gordon Conference to a computerized system. Not surprisingly, problems and delays occurred with this transition. This period also coincided with an extended sick leave for Alex Cruickshank, and I was naturally worried about whether registration and other ar-rangements for the 1986 summer conferences would be made on time. The GRC staff worked extremely hard during this difficult period, and the 1986 conferences were held successfully.

After participating for several years in the annual meetings of the Selection and Scheduling Committee to review assessments of the previous year’s conferences, I wondered whether the amount of available financial support for each conference affected the conference quality, as judged by the attendees and the GRC monitors. Although some financial support was essential to ensure participation of key scientists and discussion leaders, I found that there was, in fact, no clear correlation between the available measures of conference quality and total financial support. Assessments of quality are based primarily on the quality of the scientific presentations and discussions, the mix of attendees, and particularly the leadership and management skills of the chair. Apart from an orientation meeting, only rudimentary formal guidance was given at that time to new chairs, and I was motivated to prepare more specific information and expectations for speakers, discussion leaders, and overall management. This information, with further details, is now available on the GRC Web site.

I have subsequently organized about a dozen conferences in a Gordon-type format. Invited presentations were followed by substantive discussion periods, and a poster session allowed presentations by attendees. These conferences were both stimulating and rated highly by attendees, results that I attribute to my previous experience as a GRC chair and conference attendee. My own research has also profited from new ideas arising from formal and informal interactions at Gordon and Gordon-type conferences.

This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the United States.