Laser-stimulated desorption of potassium atoms

Desorption of K atoms by laser-excitation of surface plasmons in small K particles is reported. The desorption rate has been measured for different laser wavelengths and particle sizes. Time-of-flight measurements reveal a kinetic energy of the desorbed atoms of E_kin=0.13(3) eV. From the experimental data it is concluded that the desorption mechanism is non-thermal in nature. Comparison of the results reported here with our earlier work on Na desorption is made.