Ionization of hydrogen Rydberg molecules at a metal surface
The interaction of a beam of Rydberg molecules with a metal surface is investigated for the first time. Hydrogen molecules in a supersonic expansion are excited to Rydberg states with principal quantum number n, in the range 17-22 and are directed at a small angle onto a flat surface of either alumi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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American Physical Society
2005
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| Subjects: |
| _version_ | 1826302265942605824 |
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| author | Lloyd, G Procter, S Softley, T |
| author_facet | Lloyd, G Procter, S Softley, T |
| author_sort | Lloyd, G |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | The interaction of a beam of Rydberg molecules with a metal surface is investigated for the first time. Hydrogen molecules in a supersonic expansion are excited to Rydberg states with principal quantum number n, in the range 17-22 and are directed at a small angle onto a flat surface of either aluminium or gold. Detection of ions produced when Rydberg electrons tunnel into the metal surface provides information on the interaction between the Rydberg molecules and the surface potential. The experimental results suggest that, when close to the metal surface, the Rydberg molecules undergo a process of surface-induced rotational autoionization. It is found that the surface-ionization cross section shows strong resonances as a function of the applied electric field, which are independent of the metal studied. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T05:44:57Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:e6eaa39b-0496-4279-bbb6-4fa89d21166d |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T05:44:57Z |
| publishDate | 2005 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:e6eaa39b-0496-4279-bbb6-4fa89d21166d2022-03-27T10:34:33ZIonization of hydrogen Rydberg molecules at a metal surfaceJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:e6eaa39b-0496-4279-bbb6-4fa89d21166dChemistry & allied sciencesEnglishOxford University Research Archive - ValetAmerican Physical Society2005Lloyd, GProcter, SSoftley, TThe interaction of a beam of Rydberg molecules with a metal surface is investigated for the first time. Hydrogen molecules in a supersonic expansion are excited to Rydberg states with principal quantum number n, in the range 17-22 and are directed at a small angle onto a flat surface of either aluminium or gold. Detection of ions produced when Rydberg electrons tunnel into the metal surface provides information on the interaction between the Rydberg molecules and the surface potential. The experimental results suggest that, when close to the metal surface, the Rydberg molecules undergo a process of surface-induced rotational autoionization. It is found that the surface-ionization cross section shows strong resonances as a function of the applied electric field, which are independent of the metal studied. |
| spellingShingle | Chemistry & allied sciences Lloyd, G Procter, S Softley, T Ionization of hydrogen Rydberg molecules at a metal surface |
| title | Ionization of hydrogen Rydberg molecules at a metal surface |
| title_full | Ionization of hydrogen Rydberg molecules at a metal surface |
| title_fullStr | Ionization of hydrogen Rydberg molecules at a metal surface |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ionization of hydrogen Rydberg molecules at a metal surface |
| title_short | Ionization of hydrogen Rydberg molecules at a metal surface |
| title_sort | ionization of hydrogen rydberg molecules at a metal surface |
| topic | Chemistry & allied sciences |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lloydg ionizationofhydrogenrydbergmoleculesatametalsurface AT procters ionizationofhydrogenrydbergmoleculesatametalsurface AT softleyt ionizationofhydrogenrydbergmoleculesatametalsurface |