Electron emission from molybdenum under ion bombardment

Abstract

Reports measurements of electron emission yields of clean molybdenum surfaces under bombardment with H+, H2+, D+, D2+, He+, N+, N2+, O+, O2+, Ne+, Ar+, Kr+ and Xe+ in the wide energy range 0.7-60.2 keV. The clean surfaces were produced by inert gas sputtering under ultrahigh vacuum. The results were compared with those predicted by a core-level excitation model. The disagreement found when using correct values for the energy levels of Mo is traced to wrong assumptions in the model. A substantially improved agreement with experiment is obtained using a model in which electron emission results from the excitation of valence electrons from the target by the projectiles and fast recoiling target atoms.