Measurement of Lifetimes and Binding Energies of Atoms Adsorbed on Surfaces at Low Temperatures by a Rapid-Flash-Desorption Technique

Abstract

A dynamic method for measuring the characteristic lifetimes and binding energies of physisorbed atoms is described and results presented. We find for ∼1.5 monolayers of helium adsorbed on Constantan an isosteric binding energy of 31 ± 1°K and a characteristic lifetime of (2 ± 0.5) × ${10}^{-7\mathrm{}}$ sec. The velocity distribution of the desorbing atoms is found to be non-Maxwellian.