Time-of-flight analysis of direct recoils applied to the study of hydrogen-metal interactions

Time-of-flight analysis of direct atomic recoils (TOF-DR) produced by pulsed rare gas ion irradiation of a solid surface provides a means of identifying surface hydrogen (and its isotopes), as well as other surface atoms. This newly developed surface analysis technique is described and its suitability for the study of hydrogen-metal interactions is emphasized. The type of information obtainable by this method is classified into 1. (i) surface composition, 2. (ii) surface chemistry and 3. (iii) surface structure. Some recent examples of the application of TOF-DR measurements to the study of H-Mg and H-La systems are presented. Possible directions for future hydrogen-metal research are discussed.