Electronic Interactions of Directed Photon Beams with Surfaces
Abstract
The object of this research program is to investigate the fundamental dynamics of energy-surface interactions, with emphasis on the ways in which the energy deposited by incident uv photons and electrons lead to surface bond- breaking phenomena, to fluorescence, and to modification of surfaces and near- surface layers of bulk materials. Optical radiation may arise from electronic excitations in the near surface bulk or from excited atoms and molecules emitted from the surface. Our studies of electronically-induced desorption have shown that a significant fraction of the incident energy may be channeled into bond- breaking and desorption processes leading to ejection of excited neutral atoms and molecules from metal oxide and insulator surfaces which subsequently decay to produce optical radiation in the visible, UV or IR. Here, we report on (a) photo-stimulated desorption of excited alkali atoms following irradiation of alkali halide crystals with ultraviolet light and on (b) optical fluorescence arising from surfaces using an electron beam at room- and at cryo-temperatures under different gas dosing environments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 25, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA241878
Entities
People
- Alan V. Barnes
- Marcus Mendenhall
- Norman H. Tolk
Organizations
- Vanderbilt University