Charge state dependent kinetic electron emission induced by slow Nq+ ions in a spin-polarized electron gas

The screening of a Nq+ ion embedded in a spin-polarized electron gas is studied using density functional theory within the local spin density approximation. Results are presented for the dependence of the spin-polarization of the induced screening charge on the charge state (electronic configuration) of the Nq+ ion. The number and spin-polarization of the electrons excited when a slow Nq+ ion travels through the medium are calculated. It is observed that the degree of spin-polarization of the screening cloud and of the excited electrons depend crucially on the projectile L-shell filling. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.