Charge state of atomic particles ejected from solid surfaces: influence of initial conditions

Abstract

The charge exchange between the solid and the atomic particle during its ejection from the surface was considered in the framework of the time-dependent Anderson-Newns model. Use of equilibrium initial conditions (in the sense of the summary system of a “hybridized atom-surface”) is justified. An analytical solution for the final charge state of the atomic particle was derived. Two channels of charge exchange were shown to be present: the “dynamical” one (due to the finiteness of the characteristic time of hybridization switching off) and that related to the system “memory” (influence of the initial state). Situations in which one of the mentioned channels predominated were considered, as well as the case of the quantum interference of these channels leading to the oscillating dependence of the final charge state of the escaping atomic particle on its energy.