DESORPTION STUDIES OF METAL ATOMS USING LASER-INDUCED SURFACE-PLASMON EXCITATION

Au, Al, and Ag atoms have been desorbed from thin films on glass by laser-excited surface plasmons in an attenuated-total-reflection geometry. Desorption yields are measured as a function of angle of incidence near the optimum coupling angle and the kinetic energies of desorbed neutral atoms are determined. A linear dependence of desorption yield on photon intensities and the presence of high-kinetic-energy atoms suggest that the major desorption mechanism is a nonthermal electronic process. Possible desorption processes are discussed.