Photodesorption of NO from Ni(100)-O

Abstract

Fully state-resolved analysis of NO molecules desorbed from an oxygen-covered Ni(100) surface by uv radiation (\ensuremath{\lambda}=193 nm) yields the operation of two desorption channels, thermal and nonthermal, via electronic excitation. The latter fraction exhibits as a particular feature pronounced spin-orbit selectivity at low rotational quantum numbers.