Photoemission from sodium on ice: a mechanism for positive and negative charge coexistence in the mesosphere.
Photoemission from sodium deposited on ice films is described. Deposition of 0.02 ML of sodium is found to dramatically reduce the threshold for photoemission from the ice film to (2.3+/-0.2) eV. Thus, the cross-section for photoemission reaches >10(-18) cm2 in the visible region of the spectrum. It is proposed that the initial state is a solvated electron on the ice surface, which is supported by optical transmission spectroscopy. The potential significance of these results in understanding unexplained charging phenomena in the mesosphere is discussed.
Vondrak
Tomas
T
School of Environmental Sciences and School of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
Plane
John M C
JM
Meech
Stephen R
SR
D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D007053:Ice; D008027:Light; D010777:Photochemistry; D017785:Photons; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
D007053:Ice; D012964:Sodium