Photon emission during bombardment of solids with alkali ions in the energy range between 2 and 10 keV

Experimental results are reported regarding the emission of photons by the bombardment of solids with 2 to 10 keV alkali ions. The results about spatial and spectral distribution are interpreted with respect to a sputtering mechanism. In this process sputtered particles are excited and emitted by atomic collisions with the projectile ion. Outside of the solid in front of the surface the excited particles interact electronically with the surface and recombine radiatively into deeper electronic states. So the higher photon yields for insulators and semiconductors in regard to metals can be explained. An attempt was made to interpret the spatial distribution of photon emission.