CHARGE-TRANSFER RATES FOR EXCITED-STATES OF PROTONS AT SURFACES

Resonant loss and capture transition rates, distances of neutralizatio n and total number of neutralized protons are calculated for different bound states (n = 2 to n = 6) of 25 keV protons scattered by an A1(11 1) surface. Due to the importance that the orientation of the orbital shows when these quantities are calculated, the perturbation introduce d in the atomic levels by the image potential is analyzed for the leve l n = 2. First order perturbation theory and the specular reflection m odel with the surface plasmon pole approximation are used. The linear coefficient of the plasmon dispersion relation is calculated as a func tion of the distance from the jellium edge to the image plane. The tra nsition rates and the equilibrium populations of the new eigenstates a re presented as a function of the velocity of the protons, and compare d with the results obtained for the unperturbated states.