Spin-polarized metastable de-excitation spectroscopy: A new probe of alkali chemisorption on surfaces

dc.contributor.advisorDunning, F. B.
dc.creatorButler, William Hollis
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-04T00:07:43Z
dc.date.available2009-06-04T00:07:43Z
dc.date.issued1991
dc.description.abstractMetastable (Atom) De-excitation Spectroscopy (MDS) provides a powerful technique with which to investigate surface electronic structure with extreme surface specificity. In this technique a thermal energy beam of noble-gas metastable atoms is directed at the surface under study and the kinetic energy distribution of ejected electrons that result from metastable atom de-excitation is measured. Although the measured distribution contains information about the electronic structure of the outermost surface layer, its detailed analysis requires knowledge of the dynamics of the metastable atom-surface interaction. In the present work, these dynamics have been investigated directly by use of spin-labeling techniques. The electron spins of the incident metastable atoms are polarized and the spin-polarization of the ejected electrons is measured with a Mott polarimeter. Energy resolve electron spin-polarization measurements are reported for a variety of sub-monolayer coverages of cesium on a Cu(100) surface, and for oxygen and cesium co-adsorption on a Cu(100) surface. The Cs/Cu(100) system exhibits large ($\sim$2.8 eV) change in the surface work function. The results of the current work suggest that MDS interactions in both high and low work function regimes are more complex than has previously been supposed. Several additional interactions are suggested to explain the data acquired. The question of the occupancy of the adsorbed cesium valence level at various coverages is also addressed.
dc.format.extent63 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.callnoThesis Phys. 1991 Butler
dc.identifier.citationButler, William Hollis. "Spin-polarized metastable de-excitation spectroscopy: A new probe of alkali chemisorption on surfaces." (1991) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/16423">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/16423</a>.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/16423
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
dc.subjectCondensed matter physics
dc.titleSpin-polarized metastable de-excitation spectroscopy: A new probe of alkali chemisorption on surfaces
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialText
thesis.degree.departmentPhysics
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorRice University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy
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