Neutralization of Fast Molecular IonsH2+andN2+at Surfaces

Energy spectra of the products of surface scattering of ${\mathrm{H}}_2^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ in the primary-beam energy range from 200 to 600 eV are presented. Large neutral-molecular yields are observed for incident ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$, i.e., beams of neutral molecules can be produced with optical properties similar to that of the incident beam. The results provide a new experimental method to study resonant and Auger-type processes in ion-surface charge-exchange events.