Vanderbilt University neutral O-beam facility

A novel method for the production of low-energy beams of neutral atomic oxygen utilizing grazing-incidence neutralization is described. First measurements of an optical spectrum excited by a laboratory-created, pure beam of neutral oxygen atoms is discussed. Under high-vacuum, samples of the polyimide film Kapton were bombarded by beams of O/sup +/ and O-neutrals with energies < 5 keV, and the optical spectra resulting from the interactions were measured. Studies of interactions of neutral atomic oxygen with surfaces are relevant to the problems of erosion and glow in space. 15 references, 8 figures.