Dynamical resonant electron capture in atom surface collisions: H- formation in H-Al(111) collisions.

Abstract

The formation of ${\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ion by grazing-angle collisions of hydrogen on an Al(111) surface is investigated with the newly developed coupled angular mode method. The capture process involves a dynamical resonant process induced by the collision velocity. All the resonance properties of the ${\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ level in front of an Al(111) surface are determined: position, width, and angular distribution of ejected electrons. The results are shown to account for the recent observations on ${\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ formation by Wyputta, Zimny, and Winter.