Dynamics of high barrier surface reactions: Laser Assisted Associative Desorption of N2 from Ru(0001) =========================================================
by L. Diekhoner, H. Mortensen, A. Baurichter, A.C. Luntz, and B. Hammer.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4906 (2000).
AbstractΒΆ
We have determined the dynamics and energetics of associative desorption of N2 from Ru(0001) using both an experimental technique, laser assisted associative desorption, and density functional calculations. These show that N2 is preferentially desorbed into very high vibrational states and that the barriers between gas phase N2 and adsorbed N atoms increases from 2 eV to > 3 eV with increasing N coverage on the surface. This experimental technique is found to be quite insensitive to low barrier steps and defects which complicate interpretations from other methods of studying high barrier surface reactions.