OBSERVATION OF A NOVEL ELECTRON-BEAM EFFECT - ELECTRON-STIMULATED ASSOCIATIVE DESORPTION

We observed diatomic hydrogen and nitrogen desorbing from Pt(111) surf aces covered with multilayer ammonia at 120 K during electron irradiat ion at 600 eV. Experiments were conducted to verify that the source of H-2(g) and N-2(g) species was indeed the electron-irradiated ammonia multilayer. This effect, which we describe as electron-stimulated asso ciative desorption (ESAD),has not been previously reported. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science S.A.