Abstract Electron and energy transfer processes between an atom or molecule and a surface are extremely important for many applications in physics and chemistry. Therefore a profound understanding of these processes is essential in order to analyze a large variety of physical systems. The microscopic description of the two-electron Auger processes, leading to neutralization/ionization of an ion/neutral atom in front of a solid surface, has been a long-standing problem. It can be dated back to the 1950s when H.D. Hagstrum proposed to use the information contained in the spectrum of the electrons emitted during the neutralization of slow noble gas ions as a surface analytical tool complementing photoelectron spectroscopy. However, only recently a comprehensive description of the Auger neutralization mechanism has been achieved by the combined efforts of theoretical and experimental methods. In this article we review the theoretical models for this problem, stressing how their outcome compare with experimental results. We also analyze the inverse problem of Auger ionization. We emphasize the understanding of the key quantities governing the processes and outline the challenges remaining. This opens new perspectives for future developments of theoretical and experimental work in this field.

中文翻译：

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用于慢惰性气体原子和固体表面之间电荷交换的俄歇中和和电离过程

摘要 原子或分子与表面之间的电子和能量转移过程对于物理和化学的许多应用极为重要。因此，为了分析各种各样的物理系统，对这些过程的深刻理解是必不可少的。导致固体表面前离子/中性原子中和/电离的双电子俄歇过程的微观描述一直是一个长期存在的问题。可以追溯到 1950 年代，当时 HD Hagstrum 提议使用慢惰性气体离子中和过程中发射的电子光谱中包含的信息作为补充光电子能谱的表面分析工具。然而，直到最近，通过理论和实验方法的共同努力，才实现了对俄歇中和机制的全面描述。在本文中，我们回顾了这个问题的理论模型，强调了它们的结果与实验结果的比较。我们还分析了俄歇电离的逆问题。我们强调对控制流程的关键数量的理解，并概述剩余的挑战。这为该领域理论和实验工作的未来发展开辟了新的视角。我们强调对控制流程的关键数量的理解，并概述剩余的挑战。这为该领域理论和实验工作的未来发展开辟了新的视角。我们强调对控制流程的关键数量的理解，并概述剩余的挑战。这为该领域理论和实验工作的未来发展开辟了新的视角。