light emission via inelastic tunneling

light emission via inelastic tunneling

[¦līt i‚mish·ən ‚vē·ə ¦in·ə‚las·tik ′tən·əl·iŋ] (electronics) A process in which electrons tunneling through a thin insulating layer separating two metals excite surface plasmons which then scatter from surface and structural discontinuities, radiating visible light. Abbreviated LEIT.