ON THE ORIGIN OF NE2-ENERGY NE+ SCATTERING FROM AL AND SI SURFACES( PRODUCTION IN LOW)

We report an investigation on the inelastic energy loss of doubly char ged Ne2+ ions produced in the single scattering of Ne+ from Al and Si surfaces. The inelasticity of 86 +/- 5 eV found in the binary encounte r agrees well with the energy needed to excite two electrons from Neto Ne2+. Our results suggest that direct decay or autoionization deca y of Ne+* formed subsequently by capturing one electron from the soli d is the main mechanism for the production of Ne2+ detected in ion-sca ttering spectroscopy. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.