TUNNELING THEORY OF NEGATIVE-ION DECAY AT SURFACES

A tunneling theory of negative ion formation in adsorbed molecules is developed. This theory enables the lifetime of an adsorbate negative i on to be estimated from the probability current flowing through the di fferent angular momentum decay channels. The results of this theory ar e compared to the lifetimes of O-2(-) on Pt(111) and N-2(-) on Ag(111) calculated from the resonance poles by a LKKR method. Maps of the res onance lifetime calculated as a function of lateral position of the mo lecule are found to be in good agreement with the LKKR method.