Photon-stimulated ejection of atoms from alkali-halide nanocrystals

Absorption-ablation-excitation mechanism of laser-cluster interactions in a nanoaerosol system

The absorption-ablation-excitation mechanism in laser-cluster interactions is investigated by measuring Rayleigh scattering of aerosol clusters along with atomic emission from phase-selective laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. For 532 nm excitation, as the laser intensity increases beyond 0.16  GW/cm^{2}, the scattering cross section of TiO_{2} clusters begins to decrease, concurrent with the onset of atomic emission of Ti, indicating a scattering-to-ablation transition and the formation of nanoplasmas. With 1064 nm laser excitation, the atomic emissions are more than one order of magnitude weaker than that at 532 nm, indicating that the thermal effect is not the main mechanism. To better clarify the process, time-resolved measurements of scattering signals are examined for different excitation laser intensities. For increasing laser intensity, the cross section of clusters decreases during a single pulse, evincing the shorter ablation delay time and larger ratios of ablation clusters. Assessment of the electron energy distribution during the ablation process is conducted by nondimensionalizing the Fokker-Planck equation, with analogous Strouhal Sl_{E}, Peclet Pe_{E}, and Damköhler Da_{E} numbers defined to characterize the laser-induced aerothermochemical environment. For conditions where Sl_{E}≫1, Pe_{E}≫1, and Da_{E}≪1, the electrons are excited to the conduction band by two-photon absorption, then relax to the bottom of the conduction band by electron energy loss to the lattice, and finally serve as the energy transfer media between laser field and lattice. The relationship between delay time and excitation intensity is well correlated by this simplified model with quasisteady assumption.

Size-dependent structures of NanIn−1+ cluster ions with a methanol adsorbate: A combined study by photodissociation spectroscopy and density-functional theory calculation

Methanol adsorption sites on NanI+n-1 ions were investigated. Photoexcitation to charge-transfer states of NanI+n-1 (methanol) predominantly produces two fragment ions: Nan-1I+n-2 (methanol) (neutral NaI loss) and Nan-1I+n-2(neutral NaI and methanol loss), without forming NanI+n-1 (methanol loss). The relative intensities of these fragments are correlated with the geometries and binding energies.

Role of excitons in electron- and photon-stimulated desorption of neutrals from alkali halides

Low-energy (5-15 eV) electron- and photon-stimulated desorption of KI(100) yields I2P3/2 and 2P1/2 with hyperthermal (0.3 eV) and thermal velocity components. The desorption threshold for both components is 5.3 eV and is correlated with the gamma3/2-exciton long-wavelength edge. Exciton decay at the surface directly produces I2P3/2 and 2P1/2 with hyperthermal velocity and is in competition with self-trapping. Spin memory of the gamma-exciton hole-component is also evident in the hyperthermal channel. An exciton mediated desorption mechanism is presented which is general in alkali halides.