RADIATIVE NEUTRALIZATION OF SMALL CLUSTERS IMPINGING ON SOLID-SURFACES

Light emission during the interaction of dow singly-charged clusters w ith solid surfaces is studied theoretically. More precisely, we consid er positive ions of Ag, clusters (n = 1...5) impinging on silver surfa ces. In such systems, the charge transfer process involved during the cluster-surface interaction is mainly resonant capture. However, photo n emission due to radiative capture is also a possible charge transfer channel. Our simple theoretical model including both processes allows us to calculate the light spectra and the total photon yield for the different cluster sizes, n. Our results show that light emission stron gly depends on the electronic level dynamics of the clusters in front of the surface, providing a tool for electronic structure analysis of atoms, clusters and solid surfaces.