Angular dependence of electron emission induced by grazing-ion–surface collisions

In this work, electron emission spectra produced by impact of fast protons on Al(111) surfaces are theoretically and experimentally studied. Contributions coming from the different electronic sources of the metal—atomic inner shells and valence band—are analyzed as a function of the angle of electron emission. In the forward direction, the inner-shell ionization process is the dominant mechanism. The valence emission, instead, becomes important when the ejection angle is separated from the specular-reflection direction. In both angular regions, theoretical and experimental values are in reasonable agreement. The energy shift and broadening of the convoy electron peak at glancing observation angles are well described by the present model, which takes into account the influence of the induced surface field on the ionized electron.