title: Dynamics of high-barrier surface reactions: laser-assisted associative desorption of N2 from Ru(0001)
abstract: 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 increase from 2 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.
authors.affiliation: Fysisk Institut, SDU-Odense Universitet, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Diekhoner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baurichter
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Luntz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hammer