  Secondary electron emission (SEE) from solids plays an important role in many
areas of science and technology.1 In recent years, there has been renewed
interest in the experimental and theoretical studies of SEE. A recent study
proposed that the reflectivity of very low energy electrons from solid surface
approaches unity in the limit of zero electron energy2,3,4, If this was indeed
the case, this effect would have profound implications on the formation of
electron clouds in particle accelerators,2-4 plasma measurements with
electrostatic Langmuir probes, and operation of Hall plasma thrusters for
spacecraft propulsion5,6. It appears that, the proposed high electron
reflectivity at low electron energies contradicts to numerous previous
experimental studies of the secondary electron emission7. The goal of this note
is to discuss possible causes of these contradictions.
