Electron emission from highly-charged ions interacting with metal surfaces

An overview:is given about the electron emission when slow highly-charged i ons interact with metal surfaces. Various processes are considered starting with the formation of the hollow atom above the surface until its final de cay a few layers below the surface. In this context selected experimental d ata of the last few years are presented and theoretical results like from t he classical over-the-barrier model and transport calculations are discusse d. The instant of the K-Auger transition of the hollow atom is a main aspec t of the present paper It is shown that this process takes place almost onl y below the surface.