A method for investigations of solid surfaces by nuclear spin relaxation

A method is presented which allows to investigate hot metal surfaces (1,000 K to 1,600 K) by use of nuclear spin polarized alkali atom beams (⁶Li,⁷Li,²³Na). At these temperatures the atoms are adsorbed for about 10^–4 s to 1 s. During the residence time on the surface the nuclear moments interact with the electromagnetic fields of their environment. The nuclear spin polarization of the ions desorbing from the surface is detected by beam foil spectroscopy. The depolarization gives information on electric field gradients and magnetic fields originating in the surface and on the electronic state of the absorbed alkali atoms.Supported partly by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, both Bonn, FRG