ISSN:
1077-3118
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Photon emission spectra resulting from the impact of N2, N+2, and electron beams on magnesium fluoride in an ultrahigh vacuum environment were measured and compared for beam energies in the range of 200–2000 eV. Unexpectedly, only the ion- and electron-induced spectra exhibited broad fluorescence. The observed data suggest that the broad fluorescence arising from low-energy ion bombardment is due primarily to the transfer of electronic energy to the surface by resonance or Auger neutralization. Since molecular nitrogen is a major constituent of the atmosphere at orbital altitudes, these measurements bear directly on radiation-induced glow and erosion processes on surfaces of spacecraft in low-earth orbit.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.106147
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