Ion-induced photon emission: Neutralization mechanism of surface plasmon excitation

A mechanism of surface plasmon excitation occurring in any, including resonant, processes of neutralization of positive and negative ions near metal surface is proposed and a model of this mechanism is developed. High efficiency of the mechanism and adequacy of the model to the ion-induced photon emission data are demonstrated. The main formulas of the model are discussed in terms of the quantum-mechanical perturbation theory and dielectric formalism.