Interaction of metastable helium atoms with a Mo [110] surface. Secondary electron spectroscopy

Experimental results are given concerning the interaction of metastable helium atoms and U.V. photons, produced in the same source, with a clean molybdenum [110] surface. By means of a time of flight system the energy spectra of the secondary electrons due to metastable atoms and photons may be separated and recorded simultaneously. Mathematical processing of the experimental curves and comparison of the results with calculated state densities show that the He* deexcitation process is a resonant ionization followed by an Auger neutralization.