Momentum resolved electron stimulated desorption ion angular distribution, a new technique, probing the low frequency motion of adsorbed molecules on single crystal surfaces

A new technique, momentum resolved electron stimulated desorption ion angular distribution (ESDIAD), provides a method for taking snapshots of the zero-point position and lateral momentum of particles adsorbed on crystalline surfaces. By employing state-of-the-art electronics and computer technology it is possible to record for each desorbing particle the desorption direction together with the flight time. High momentum and directional resolved images are obtained, with time-of-flight resolution in the picosecond range and data acquisition rates up to 100 kHz. This enables us to deconvolute spatial and momentum contributions to the ESDIAD pattern and to map the low frequency motion of the adsorbed particles. These maps reflect the adsorbate interactions with the substrate and with neighboring species on the substrate. For selected examples it is demonstrated that by measuring the three dimensional momentum vector for each desorbing particle it is possible to probe the lowest energy states of adsorbed species, as well as to measure the momentum distribution when the adsorbed species gains thermal energy. Such information can be used as a basis for thinking about anisotropies in lateral motion of particles on surfaces. One major opportunity involves the study of dissimilar chemisorbed species which, when imaged together in momentum and real space, give new insights into the first stages of interaction between the species, leading ultimately to a chemical reaction. copyright 1999 American Vacuum Society