Band structure effects in ejection of Ni atoms in fine structure states.

Abstract

Kinetic energy distributions of Ni atoms in six electronic fine structure states ejected from a single crystal Ni{001} surface due to bombardment with 5 keV ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$ ions have been measured. These states arise from two different electronic configurations, $3{d}^{8}4{s}^{2}{a^{3}F_{4,3,2}}$ and $3{d}^{9}4{s}^{1}{a^{3}D_{3,2} or a^{1}D_{2}}$, which form three distinct fine structure manifolds within 0.422 eV of the $^{3}F_{4}$ ground state. We find that the band structure effects dominate leading to larger populations in the excited $^{3}D_{3,2}$ states than found for the ground state.