Theory of spin polarization in the metastable-He-metal interaction

Spin polarized metastable helium de-excitation processes on metal surfaces

Spin polarized de-excitation of a metastable helium atom interacting with metal surfaces is treated within density functional theory. The method is based on a self-consistent calculation of the spin dependent electronic properties of the system, such as the surface density of states and the localized surface states, to compute the transition rate. On the high work function Ag(100) and Ag(111) surfaces, the helium 2s electron is delocalized in the metal and hence the transition rate is weakly spin dependent. The existence of a Shockley surface state in Ag(111) determines a neutralization rate that is about 59% larger than that from Ag(100). On a low work function metal, namely Na(100), the rate is of smaller magnitude than those on silver because the 2s triplet resonance is found to be more occupied. Consequently, emitted electrons can display a strong spin dependence also for a paramagnetic surface.

Organic mass spectrometry and control of fragmentation using a fast flow glow discharge ion source

Representative organic vapors have been introduced into the flowing afterglow of a low power (<5 W) dc-glow discharge, coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer. When a positive bias was applied to the ion sampling orifice, the very surprising result was that molecular mass spectra were obtained with a high sensitivity. When a negative bias was applied to the ion sampling orifice, fragmentation of the analyte was observed with an increase in the extent of ion dissociation as the voltage was increased. The breakdown pattern is compound-specific and would be useful in confirming the identity of an unknown sample. When combined with chromatographic separation, the FFGD-MS technique could be used for chemical speciation studies at the sub-picogram level.