Theoretical calculation of the hydrogen negative ionization probability on the low work function surfaces

Abstract

In this work, the probability of negative ionization of hydrogen particles on low work function metal surfaces is calculated: an important parameter for the field of the surface plasma negative ion sources. We present the theoretical model for the computer calculation of the negative ionization probability. The key feature of our model is that the affinity level of the hydrogen atom is set constant near the surface; hence the calculated ionization probability does not depend heavily on the initial atom-surface distance.