Possible Observation of the Thermal Desorption of Excited Molecular Ions from Hot Graphite
Abstract
In perhaps the first experiment to determine the energies of ions thermally desorbed from positively biased graphite,^1 ion energies are measured which appear to be inconsistent with the bias applied to the graphite. The energies are consistent however, with the desorption of a molecular ion, perhaps KH^+, which then dissociates after leaving the surface. Hence, we suggest that molecular ions may be thermally desorbed in excited states. This research was supported by the Connecticut Space Grant Consortium under NASA EPSCOR grant No. NCC5-601. 1. J. Lozano, Q.C. Kessel, E. Pollack and W.W. Smith, "Ion Beam Emission of Charged Particles from Hot Graphite" in shape Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry - Sixteenth International Conference, edited by J.L. Duggan and I.L. Morgan, AIP CP (576), 1044-1046 (2001)
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002APS..DMP.J6079G