Electron spectroscopic studies of the neutralization of slow multicharged ions during interactions with a metal surface

Recent experimental results of electron spectroscopic studies of the neutralization and relaxation of slow multicharged ions interacting with metal surfaces obtained at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are summarized. Discussed are measurements of projectile K‐Auger electron emission during interactions of N6+ ions with clean and cesiated Au, as well as clean Cu single crystal targets. While the dominant component in the measured K‐Auger spectra is shown to be due to sub‐surface electron emission, at incident perpendicular velocities below about 10−2 au, small features become evident in the measured K‐Auger spectra that are consistent with above‐surface projectile electron emission. The experimental results are compared with results of modeling studies of above‐ and sub‐surface electron emission. Also presented are measurements of low energy electron emission during multicharged ion‐surface interactions, together with a discussion and analysis of the various contributing low energy emission mechanisms.