Simulation of thermionic emission optimization in femtosecond laser irradiation metal film by two-layer structure

The thermionic emission of the single-layer gold thin film and the two-layer film was assembled by gold padded with other metals (Ag, Cu, and Ni) and irradiated by the femtosecond laser pulse. Additionally, the emission was simulated by a two-temperature model combined with the Richardson–Dushman equation. It was found that the two-layer metal structure can change the electron temperature of the gold surface and control the thermionic emission compared with the single-layer gold film. With the same laser fluence, the two-layer film structure may shorten the duration of thermionic emission, and the duration of the thermionic emission can be further optimized by changing the proportion of thin film thickness with gold layer in the two-layer structure. The result can be especially beneficial in the context of ultrafast electron emission induced by femtosecond laser.