New model for ion neutralization at surfaces

We investigate the neutralization of low energy He+ ions in close collision s with metal surface atoms. In order to describe the neutralization process as completely as possible, we consider Auger neutralization (AN), resonant neutralization (RN) and resonant ionization (RI). Our calculation agrees w ell with experimental data and shows that in some metals (like Pd) AN is th e dominant process, whereas in others (like Al) RN and RI contribute signif icantly for energies above the threshold for reionization. (C) 1999 Publish ed by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.