Electron-stimulated desorption of cesium atoms from cesium layers adsorbed on tungsten coated by a gold film

Physics of the Solid State - The yield and energy distributions of cesium atoms escaping in electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) from cesium layers adsorbed on tungsten coated by a gold film have...     

Electron-stimulated desorption of sodium atoms from sodium layers adsorbed on a gold film

The yield and energy distributions of sodium atoms upon their electron-stimulated desorption from sodium layers adsorbed on tungsten coated by a gold film are measured for the first time as functions of the energy of bombarding electrons, the thickness of the gold film, and the amount of adsorbed sodium. The electron-stimulated desorption channel associated with the excitation of core levels of gold is revealed for the first time.     

Effect of deposition of samarium atoms on the electron-stimulated desorption of cesium and samarium atoms from the surface of tungsten coated by gold and cesium

It has been shown that deposition of Sm atoms on W(100) surface coated by several monolayers of gold and cesium affects noticeably the yield of Cs atoms in electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) from this surface. The measurements have been performed by the time-of-flight method with a surface-ionization detector. The paper reports on the first observation of ESD of Sm atoms from the tungsten surface coated by layers of gold and cesium. The ESD threshold for Sm atoms, E _e = 57 eV, coincides with that for Cs atoms and corresponds to the energy of the Au 5p _3/2 core level. The dependence of the ESD yield of Sm atoms on the bombarding electron energy E _e follows a resonance pattern in the form of a narrow peak located in the range 57 ≤ E _e ≤ 66 eV. Deposition of Sm atoms at room temperature (～300 K) reduces (by a factor of about two) the ESD yield of Cs atoms for 600 s, and deposition of Sm atoms at 160 K reduces the ESD of Cs atoms down to zero already for 270 s. This difference finds explanation in the study of the change the structure of the top layer of the (Au + Cs)/W surface coating undergoes under cooling of the surface from 300 to 160 K.     

Cross sections for electron-stimulated desorption of alkali-metal atoms from adlayers on oxidized tungsten

Earlier cross-section measurements of electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) of Li, Na, K, and Cs atoms from adlayers on oxidized tungsten are analyzed with respect to substrate temperature and degree of oxidation. It is conjectured that the ESD cross sections are determined by the ratio of the rates of neutral alkali-metal re-ionization on the surface and of relaxation of the O⁺ charge in the substrate. A comparison with experiment revealed the dependence of the re-ionization rate of an alkali-metal adatom on its size and mass, as well as the dependence of the O⁺ charge relaxation rate on substrate temperature and degree of oxidation. The relation of the charge relaxation time to the substrate band structure is discussed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1491–1497 (August 1997)     

Resonances in the cesium atom yield in electron-stimulated desorption from tungsten coated with a germanium monolayer

The yield and energy distributions of Cs atoms emerging from cesium layers, which are adsorbed on tungsten coated with a thin germanium film (1-to 2-monolayers thick), have been measured as a function of the incident electron energy, the amount of adsorbed cesium, and the substrate temperature. The measurements were performed by the time-of-flight technique with a surface ionization detector. At low cesium coverages (Θ < 0.1), the Cs atom appearance threshold at a substrate temperature T = 160 K is ～24 eV, which correlates with the Cs 5s-level ionization energy. As the electron energy is increased, the yield passes through a broad plateau and reaches saturation. The signal intensity in the plateau region decreases gradually with increasing cesium coverage and tends to zero for Θ > 0.14. For Θ ≥ 0.15, the cesium atom appearance threshold shifts to ～30 eV, which corresponds to the Ge 3d-level ionization energy and the plateau is replaced by a resonance peak at ～38 eV, which can be identified with the ionization energy of the W 5p _3/2 level. This peak is observed only for Θ < 0.3 and T = 160 K. For Θ ≥ 0.3, there appears a resonance peak at ～50 eV, and for Θ ≥ 0.5, another resonance peak appears at ～80 eV. These peak positions correlate with the ionization energies of the W 5p _1/2 and W 5s levels, and their intensity is maximum at Θ = 1. The Cs atom energy distributions for Θ < 0.15 consist of a bell-shaped peak with a maximum at ～0.55 eV, and those for Θ ≥ 0.15 contain two nearly resolved maxima, a broad one peaking at ～0.5 eV and a narrow one at ～0.35 eV. The above results argue for the existence of three channels of Cs atom desorption. One channel involves reverse motion of the Cs²⁺ ion; another channel, neutralization of the adsorbed Cs⁺ ion following the Auger decay of a vacancy in the Ge atom; and the third channel involves desorption of a CsGe molecule as it is repelled from a W core exciton.     

Electron-stimulated desorption of sodium atoms from germanium-coated tungsten

The yield of sodium atoms and energy distribution upon electron-stimulated desorption from sodium layers adsorbed on tungsten coated with a germanium thin film are measured under variations in the electron energy, the sodium coverage, and the surface temperature by the time-of-flight method with the use of a surface ionization detector. It is revealed that the electron-stimulated desorption of sodium atoms occurs via three channels, namely, a channel involving ionization of adsorbed sodium; the most efficient channel, which is produced by the germanium ionization; and a channel associated with the formation of tungsten excitons, which brings about desorption of NaGe molecules.     

Electron-stimulated desorption of cesium atoms from cesium layers deposited on a germanium-coated tungsten surface

The yield and energy distribution of Cs atoms from cesium layers adsorbed on germanium-coated tungsten were measured, using the time-of-flight technique with a surface-ionization-based detector, as a function of the energy of bombarding electrons, germanium film thickness, the amount of adsorbed cesium, and substrate temperature. The threshold for the appearance of Cs atoms is ～30 eV, which correlates well with the germanium 3d-level ionization energy. As the electron energy increases, the Cs atom yield passes through a broad maximum at ～120 eV. For germanium film thicknesses from 0.5 to 2 monolayers, resonance Cs yield peaks were observed at electron energies of 50 and 80 eV, which can be related to the tungsten 5p and 5s core-level ionization energies. As the cesium coverage increases, the Cs atom yield passes through a flat maximum at monolayer coverage. The energy distribution of Cs atoms follows a bell-shaped curve. With increasing cesium coverage, this curve shifts to higher energies for thin germanium films and to lower energies for thick films. The Cs energy distribution measured at a substrate temperature T = 160 K exhibits two bell-shaped peaks, namely, a narrow peak with a maximum at ～0.35 eV, associated with tungsten core-level excitation, and a broad peak with a maximum at ～0.5 eV, deriving from the excitation of the germanium 3d core level. The results obtained can be described within a model of Auger-stimulated desorption.     

Field desorption of a potassium-gold film on tungsten

The formation and destruction of alloys and chemical compounds of gold with potassium occurring in their coadsorption on tungsten have been studied by continuous-mode field-desorption microscopy, field-emission microscopy, and time-of-flight mass analysis of the products of field-induced desorption. The effect of an electric field on these processes was investigated. Monatomic and cluster ions of potassium and its compounds with gold were found to appear in fields too weak for field desorption to set in. Chemical reactions give rise to autooscillations in the field desorption of potassium.     

The temperature dependence of Eu atom yield resonances in electron-stimulated desorption from oxidized tungsten

This paper reports on the first measurement of the intensity of the resonances in the yield of europium neutrals as a function of temperature observed in electron-stimulated desorption from tungsten surfaces oxidized to different degrees and having different europium coverages. The measurements were carried out by the time-of-flight method with a surface ionization detector. The temperature dependences obtained for resonances due to europium and tungsten core level ionization differ qualitatively. The relation is reversible for temperatures below the onset of europium thermal desorption.     

Kinetics of desorption from adsorbed layers formed by two-dimensional islands and by a two-dimensional gas

The kinetics of desorption from the adsorbed layers formed by two-dimensional (2D) islands and by a 2D gas of single atoms is considered for the case when the flux of adsorbate atoms from the gaseous phase reaches the surface. The effect of this flux on the desorption kinetics is analyzed. It is shown that this effect can be disregarded when the islands are in equilibrium with the surrounding 2D gas. The possibilities of determining the energy required for the removal of atoms from 2D islands to a vacuum are considered for the case of the absence of equilibrium in adsorbed layers. The conditions under which such a determination is possible are formulated, and the corresponding recommendations for experimental studies are worked out.     

Investigation of interaction between lithium and tantalum under a silicon film coating by electron-stimulated desorption technique

The electron-stimulated desorption of Li⁺ ions from lithium layers adsorbed on the tantalum surface coated with a silicon film has been investigated. The measurements are performed using a static magnetic mass spectrometer equipped with an electric field-retarding energy analyzer. The threshold of the electron-stimulated desorption of lithium ions is close to the ionization energy of the Li 1s level. The secondary thresholds are observed at energies of about 130 and 150 eV. The threshold at an energy of 130 eV is approximately 30 eV higher than the ionization energy of the Si 2p level and can be associated with the double ionization. The threshold at 150 eV can be caused by the ionization of the Si 2s level. It is demonstrated that the yield of Li⁺ ions does not correlate with the silicon amount in near-the-surface region of the tantalum ribbon and drastically increases at high annealing temperatures. The dependence of the current of Li⁺ desorption on the lithium concentration upon annealing of the tantalum ribbon at T>1800 K exhibits two maxima. The ions desorbed by electrons with energies higher than 130 and 150 eV make the largest contribution to the current of lithium ions after the annealing. The yield of lithium ions upon ionization of the Li 1s level at an energy of 55 eV is considerably lesser, but it is observed at higher concentrations of deposited lithium. The results obtained can be interpreted in the framework of the Auger-stimulated desorption model with allowance made for relaxation of the local surface field.     

Isotope effects in electron impact desorption of CO and O2 adsorbed on the (110) plane of tungsten

Results on the isotope effect for total and ionic desorption cross sections in the electron impact desorption of various binding states of CO on the (110) plane of tungsten, and of oxygen on this plane are presented and discussed. It is shown that the observations allow a dissection of cross sections into excitation cross sections and escape probabilities, and that the latter can be used to estimate lifetimes of excited or ionic states. It is found that excitation cross sections for total desorption are of the order of 10^?16–10^?17 cm², but seem to be significantly smaller in some cases for excitation to ionic states, suggesting that different excitations are involved. In all cases examined here the isotope effect for total desorption is much smaller than for ion production. This can be explained by the fact that ion lifetimes are somewhat shorter than those of excited neutrals. Lifetimes are estimated, in the cases examined, to be of the order of 10^?14s.     

Adsorption of single alkali atoms on tungsten using field emission and field desorption

Single adatom events have been detected and the binding energies and dipole moments of single sodium, potassium and cesium adatoms have been measured on the (110), (112) and (111) planes of tungsten in a probe hole field emission microscope. The Fowler-Nordheim formulation has been modified to include averaging effects implicit in probe hole measurements on single adsorbed atoms. The work function changes and consequent dipole moments associated with single alkali adatoms on a tungsten surface have been estimated. A model has been proposed to obtain binding energies from measurements of the field required to desorb a single alkali adatom. The results are in good agreement with current theoretical predictions for the adsorption of single alkali atoms on metals.     

Effect of secondary electrons on the yield of electron-stimulated desorption of neutral atoms under differently localized core-level excitations in a substrate

This paper reports on the results of a comparative analysis of the changes in the electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) yield of neutral particles from layers of alkali metal and Ba atoms deposited on the surface of a metal atop an oxygen (O/W, O/Mo) or germanium (Ge/W) film as a function of the incident electron beam energy E. The atomic yield q(E) is compared with the ionization cross sections of the core levels whose ionization potentials coincide with the ESD yield thresholds of the atoms. Three types of dependences q(E) are discussed, and the role of the secondary electrons generated in the electron-bombarded substrate for each type of the dependence of the ESD yield on E is elucidated. The analysis is based on the experimental studies performed by the authors in the recent years, starting from 1991. It is shown that the actual type of dependence q(E) is determined both by the actual localization of the atom excited by the electron beam and by the extent of localization of the core excitation resulting in ESD.     

Isotope effects in electron impact desorption of CO and O2 adsorbed on the (110) plane of tungsten

Results on the isotope effect for total and ionic desorption cross sections in the electron impact desorption of various binding states of CO on the (110) plane of tungsten, and of oxygen on this plane are presented and discussed. It is shown that the observations allow a dissection of cross sections into excitation cross sections and escape probabilities, and that the latter can be used to estimate lifetimes of excited or ionic states. It is found that excitation cross sections for total desorption are of the order of 10⁻¹⁶–10⁻¹⁷ cm², but seem to be significantly smaller in some cases for excitation to ionic states, suggesting that different excitations are involved. In all cases examined here the isotope effect for total desorption is much smaller than for ion production. This can be explained by the fact that ion lifetimes are somewhat shorter than those of excited neutrals. Lifetimes are estimated, in the cases examined, to be of the order of 10⁻¹⁴s.     

Electron impact desorption of hydrogen on tungsten: II. Hydrogen in mixed adsorption layers

The electron impact desorption (EID) of H⁺ ions and of H₂ molecules from hydrogen coadsorbed with carbon monoxide or oxygen on tungsten has been investigated mass spectrometrically. It is shown that the high EID cross sections for hydrogen on tungsten reported in some earlier investigations must have been due to coadsorbed states. These states have been investigated in some detail with respect to their general adsorptive (relative coverages, sticking coefficients, isosteric heats, and desorption rates) and their EID properties (total and ionic cross sections, threshold energies). The results stress the high specificity of EID for certain (usually weakly bound) adsorption states and its applicability for the investigation of such states even in the presence of other states with much higher populations.