Lane, Neal F.2018-12-182018-12-181975Carlson, Lawrence Walter. "On the interaction of metastable hydrogen and helium atoms with a metal surface." (1975) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104134">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104134</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104134Text includes handwritten formulasA theoretical study of the adiabatic interaction of a metastable 2s hydrogen (or 2^1,3 S helium) atom with an idealized metal surface has been carried out where account has been taken of the 2s-2p state mixing due to the atom metal interaction. The variationally determined wavefunction and resonant-ionization rate are calculated as a function of atom-surface separation. It is found for the 2s(2p) state that the 2s-2p mixing causes a substantial lowering (raising) of the electronic energy and an increase (decrease) in the ionization rate. The competitive process of Penning ionization of adsorbed atoms is discussed using a simple model.137 ppengCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.ThesisRICE1761reformatted digitalThesis Phys. 1975 Carlson