Ionization processes in ion-surface collisions at grazing incidence

The authors analyse the electron emission produced by ionization of target electrons in grazing fast ion-surface collisions. In this approach they describe the target within the jellium approximation. The Coulomb field of the impinging ion sets the surface electrons in motion like in a binary collision. This process gives to some electrons the energy necessary to overcome the surface potential barrier and to escape from the solid. The authors analyse the electron energy spectra produced by this mechanism and study the effect of the solid work function.