A novel He atom scattering technique complementary to temperature programmed desorption

We have investigated a novel method utilizing the He atom scattering (HAS) technique which is most sensitive to surface adsorbates, and is complementa ry to temperature programmed desorption (TPD). The principle of this novel method is discussed. The novel technique is demonstrated by monitoring the coverage of desorbing species from a Pt(111) surface irradiated with hypert hermal ethane molecules. The new technique will provide us with information on the binding energy and concentration of adsorbed species at very low co verage which cannot be obtained with the conventional TPD process.