Determination of secondary electron ejection coefficients for rare gas metastable atoms

Abstract

Secondary electron ejection coefficients for rare gas metastable atoms striking a stainless steel surface have been determined using an improved gas cell technique. Data are presented for He(2 ¹S), He(2 ³S), and Ne(³P_0,2) atoms, and limitations of this technique are discussed. An alternative method for γ determination is described which utilizes laser induced photoionization rather than chemiionization, and results are presented for He(2 ¹S) and Xe(³P₀).