Modification of atomic solids via electronic subsystem probed by spectroscopic methods

The role of electronic excitations in the modification of surface properties of atomic solids (AS) is considered using solid Kr as an example. The study is focused on the novel phenomenon found recently in AS: anomalous low temperature 'post-desorption' (ALTpD) observed after irradiation of AS with low-energy electron beam. The experiments were performed employing cathodoluminescence (CL) method in combination with correlated in real time measurements of thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL), thermally stimulated exoelectron emission (TSEE) and detection of the 'post-desorption' yield. Analysis of the yields correlation enabled us to verify a two-stage mechanism of the ALTpD: (i) thermally assisted release of electrons from their traps followed by (ii) intrinsic charge recombination resulting in 'excimer dissociation' via radiative transition to a repulsive part of the ground state potential curve.