Charge and excitation state of Na projectiles scattered from Al surfaces

Abstract

This work addresses the issue of the anomalous neutralization of slow sodium ions at aluminum surfaces by measuring spectra of Auger electrons emitted by collisionally excited sodium projectiles. The anomalous fraction of scattered singly charged ions is due to the Auger decay of singly excited projectiles. Electron emission experiments reveal a sizeable production of doubly charged ions that should be observed in ion fraction measurements. Measurements at varying incidence angles provide a rather detailed description of the successive stages of the inelastic scattering events that determine the charge state of scattered projectiles.

KEYWORDS:

• Ion beam analysis
• autoionization and Auger processes
• atom impact and scattering
• electronic excitation and ionization

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

D. Runco

D. Runco received his B.Sc in Materials Science for Nanotechnology in December 2020 at the physics department of University of Calabria. He worked on research on the mechanisms of electron emission in ion-solids interactions.

P. Riccardi

P. Riccardi researcher in experimental physics at the physics department of University of Calabria. He received his Ph.D in 1997 from University of Calabria. He worked at the laboratory for atomic and surface physics of the University of Virginia in 1996 and in 2000-2001. His current research interests are in ion-solids interactions, electron spectroscopy of nanomaterials and graphene, public outreach and public engagement.