The degree of positive ionization of sputtered metal clusters

The results of recent experimental studies of the degree of positive ionization of clusters sputtered from a number of metal surfaces by keV-ion bombardment are analyzed in terms of an earlier proposed model. The model assumes that in addition to electron exchange, there exists another mechanism of cluster ionization - thermionic emission of electrons from clusters. The calculations qualitatively reproduce the experimental data. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved