The collision of a molecular ion with a metal surface involves charge trans
fer. The effects of charge transfer can be readily seen in the increase of
dissociation of ionized molecules as compared to neutral molecule dissociat
ion, and to detectable electron emission. In the present work we present th
e results of a theoretical study of electron emission during the collision
of hydrogen and nitrogen with an Al surface. In both cases the dominant ele
ctron emission process for slow ions is the de-excitation of the H-2(+) and
N-2(+) molecules formed by resonance neutralization of the molecular ion i
n front of an Al surface. The de-excitation process is enhanced by the form
ation of a negative ion, which corresponds to the free-molecule shape reson
ances (2)Sigma(u)(+) and (2)Pi(g) for H-2 and N-2, respectively. The energy
spectra of the emitted electrons are much broadened, making it difficult t
o recognize the signature of a transient negative ion in the energy spectra
of ejected electrons. Finally, the ubiquitous presence of negative ions in
molecule-surface scattering is emphasized. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.
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