Formation of negative ions from fluorine projectiles scattered off a MgO(100) surface: Theory

We present a parameter-free theoretical study of the negative-ion production from fluorine projectiles during low-energy (0.5--4 keV), small incidence angle (3.5^∘{}) collisions with a MgO(100) surface. Our calculations are based on the binary encounter model developed to describe the electron capture by a projectile upon collision with an insulating ionic crystal surface [see A. G. Borisov and V. Sidis, Phys. Rev. B 56, 10 628 (1997)]. For the low-velocity behavior of the negative-ion yield, good agreement is obtained between our theoretical results and the available experimental data by S. Ustaze et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 3526 (1997)].