Kinetic-energy-driven enhancement of secondary-electron yields of highly charged ions impinging on thin films of C₆₀ on Au

Abstract

The secondary electron yields as a result of slowhighly charged ions (Ar4+ ,Ar13+) impinging on clean Au(111), highly oriented pyrolitic graphite, and thin films of C60 on Au are presented. In order to investigate the dynamics of the neutralization of the highly charged ions in front of the surface, angular scans have been performed. The results give a clear indication that the observed increase in electron yield seen on C60 compared to Au stems from kinetic-energy-driven processes and not from processes driven by the potential energy carried by the highly charged ion.