Light-ion neutralization behavior in the 25 to 150 keV range using a medium-energy ion-reflection spectrometer

Charged fractions of H, D, He, Li, B, C, N, F and Ne backscattered from Au surfaces have been measured. These backscattered particles with energies in the range 25 to 150 keV are counted and energy analyzed by a high resolution solid state detector. The charged fractions of H and He appear to almost follow a simple dependence on the emergence velocity. This is, however, not true for heavier ions. Li shows the highest charged fraction followed by F, B, Ne, N and C. The results are compared with the existing theoretical calculations. For H, all these calculations give somewhat higher charge fractions than obtained experimentally although the general trend is well predicted. The work of Zaidins which is the only one that attempts to describe the charged fraction of heavier ions agrees reasonably well with the measured values for Ne and N but differs by a large amount for Li, B and F.