Neutralization of fast molecular ions H2/+/ and N2/+/ at surfaces

Energy spectra of the products of surface scattering of H2(+) and N2(+) in the primary-beam energy range from 200 to 600 eV are presented. Large neutral-molecular yields are observed for incident N2(+), i.e., beams of neutral molecules can be produced with optical properties similar to those of the incident beam. The results provide a new experimental method to study resonant and Auger-type processes in ion-surface charge-exchange events.