Broadening effects in Auger neutralization of 130-430Â eV Ar+ ions at Al surfaces

We present a model for electron emission from Al surfaces by Auger neutralization of 130-430 eV Ar+ ions, that includes the singular response of the metal conduction band to the abrupt change of the surface potential caused by electron capture by the incident ion. This effect, previously identified in X-ray studies, produces a broadening that plays a significant role in reproducing the higher energy part of the experimental electron kinetic energy distributions.