Absorption Spectra of Metal Atoms Adsorbed on the Surface of a Single Crystal

A method for obtaining the spectra of atoms adsorbed on a single crystal with an ion-covalent bond is suggested. A photostimulated burst of luminescence is used to record the spectra. The atoms are deposited in a vacuum by a mass-spectrometric technique. The absorption spectrum of silver atoms adsorbed on a silver chloride single crystal at concentrations comprising a millionth fraction of the surface monolayer has been obtained. It has been revealed that the optical ionization potential of an adsorbed silver atom is equal to 1.9 eV.