Theory of Auger neutralization and deexcitation of slow ions at metal surfaces

The contribution of conduction electrons to the Auger neutralization rate o f a slow ion at a metal surface has been calculated. We have considered the scattering of He+ on Al and studied the effect of the ion potential on the neutralization rate. This has been accomplished by taking into account the modification of the wave function of the captured electron induced by the presence of the ion. The effect of the ion potential is shown to increase t he Auger neutralization rate. We have also calculated the Auger deexcitatio n of He* (n=2) atoms in front of an aluminum surface, including the distors ion created by the surface on the atom states. In this case, the deexcitati on rate is reduced by the mixing of atom and surface states, which also lea ds to a nonvanishing deexcitation rate of metastable He (2(1)S). [S0163-182 9 (98)06543-6].