Plasmon-assisted visible light emission in the interaction of highly charged ions with surfaces

The measurements of spectra with wavelengths from 200nm to 1000nm emitted from solid surfaces excited by highly charged ions(HCIs) are reported. The results show that the spectral line of specimen materials can be excited by HCIs, and when the quantity of electric charge is more than a critical number, the intensity of the excited spectral line will be sharply enhanced. Theoretical analysis gives that, this mutation is tied up with the excitation of the conducting-electron gas plasmon in the metal surface.