Electron emission via Auger-ion neutralization at surfaces with adsorbed alkali-metal submonolayers

Abstract

We blend the dynamical equations of the many-electron theory of Auger neutralization with the stochastic theory of spectral-line shape to study the electron emission induced by slow rare-gas ion scattering from alkali-metal-covered metal surfaces. It is shown that the high-energy tails in the emitted electron spectra, observed for ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{+}$ scattering from Cs/W(110) at coverages up to about 0.1 monolayer, are the result of the projectile valence-level fluctuation in the inhomogeneous adlayer potential.