Electric potential of the vacuum at a point in space.
Notes: - In electron spectroscopy, the point in space is taken at a sufficiently large distance outside the sample, such that electric fields caused by different work functions of different parts of the surface are zero or extremely small.
- This level is not experimentally accessible.
See also: vacuum level
Source:
PAC, 2020, 92, 1781. 'Glossary of methods and terms used in surface chemical analysis (IUPAC Recommendations 2020)' on page 1818 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2019-0404)