For impact of slow multicharged N, Ne, Ar, and I ions on clean polycrystalline gold (impact velocity 1×${10}^4$<${\mathit{v}}_{\mathit{p}}$<15×${10}^4$ m/s, for the first time the statistics of the resulting electron emission have been determined, from which rather precise total electron yields have been derived. From the impact-velocity dependences of yields and the shapes of electron multiplicities two different contributions to electron emission are identified, one probably being due to autonization before surface impact and the other due to faster autoionization just at the surface or already inside the solid.

• Received 27 April 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.69.1140