The influence of low energy ion beams on an adsorbing surface

Abstract

Strong enhancement of the oxygen-chemisorption at a Cu(110) surface is measured during low energy (some keV) noble gas (Ne+) ion bombardment. This phenomenon is independent of the coverage and is linearly related to the number of impinging ions per second. A model description of the oxygen adsorption on a Cu(110) surface is given: the model of dissociative adsorption via a mobile precursor state is extended to take into account the twofold symmetry of the surface. From a comparison of model calculations with the experimental results, model parameters can be estimated. The estimated parameters are in agreement with the adsorbate-structure deduced from LEED patterns. Ion-induced adsorption is discussed with the aid of this model.