Electron Emission from Metals under High-Energy Hydrogen Ion Bombardment

Measurements of the electron emission from Mg, Al, Fe, Ni, Au, and Pb surfaces bombarded by atomic (H1+) and molecular (H2+) hydrogen ions with energies from 0.7 to 2.0 Mev showed a diminishing emission with ion energy and little dependence on either atomic number or on the field intensity at the metal surface. Measurements of this type are of interest in connection with the mechanism of high voltage discharges in vacuum. The expected variation of secondary emission with angle of incidence and with conditioning was found. The emission ratios are compared with measurements by others at lower ion energies.