Metastable helium atom stimulated desorption of H+ Ion

H+ desorption induced by the impact of metastable helium atoms has been found for H(2)O/Na/Ni(110) coadsorption systems. The measurements were carried out using a time-of-flight technique and a pulsed-discharge type metastable helium atom ( He(*)) source. It is concluded that the H+ desorption by He(*) is induced by a hole created on the valence levels via the Auger deexcitation of He(*). The H+ desorption by He(*) may be understood within the framework of the Menzel-Gomer-Readhead model.