Energy transfer in adsorption. II. Model calculations

Abstract

Model calculations are presented for the condensation of gases on metal surfaces for several mechanisms of gas-surface energy transfer. The mechanisms considered are classical and quantum-mechanical momentum transfer to the substrate, excitation of substrate electrons, and coupling to internal degrees of freedom of the gas molecules. Sticking coefficients are computed as functions of the interaction potential, adsorbate and substrate mass, and gas and surface temperatures. The dependence of the sticking coefficient on these parameters may be different for different mechanisms of energy transfer.