Rotational corrugation in associative desorption of D2 from Cu(111)

D. Wetzig; M. Rutkowski; R. David; H. Zacharias

doi:doi:10.1209/epl/i1996-00183-2

Rotational corrugation in associative desorption of D2 from Cu(111) DOI: 10.1209/epl/i1996-00183-2

Europhys. Lett, 36 (1), pp. 31-36 (1996)

Rotational corrugation in associative desorption of from Cu(111)

D. Wetzig , M. Rutkowski , R. David and H. Zacharias

Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysik, Universität Essen - 45117 Essen, Germany
Institut für Grenzflächenforschung und Vakuumphysik, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, FRG.

(received 1 July 1996; accepted 19 August 1996)

PACS. 33.20Ni - Vacuum ultraviolet spectra.
PACS. 79.20Rf - Atomic, molecular, and ion beam interactions with surfaces.
PACS. 82.65-i - Surface and interface chemistry.

Abstract:

We report rotationally state-resolved measurements of the average steric orientation of

molecules desorbing from a Cu(111) surface. The desorbing flux of

molecules is probed by laser-induced fluorescence with linearly polarized tunable vacuum ultraviolet radiation in the

. Molecules desorbing in the vibrational ground state show for all rotational states measured

a quadrupole alignment factor,

, compatible with a spatially isotropic distribution. A strong azimuthal, polar, and lateral corrugation of the dissociative interaction potential can cause this behavior.