title: Vibrationally promoted electron emission at a metal surface: electron kinetic energy distributions.
abstract: We report the first direct measurement of the kinetic energy of exoelectrons produced by collisions of vibrationally excited molecules with a low work function metal surface exhibiting electron excitations of 64% (most probable) and 95% (maximum) of the initial vibrational energy. This remarkable efficiency for vibrational-to-electronic energy transfer is in good agreement with previous results suggesting the coupling of multiple vibrational quanta to a single electron.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9510, USA.
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larue
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matsiev
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Velarde
authors.forename: N Hendrik
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Nahler
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Auerbach
authors.forename: Alec M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wodtke
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D004735:Energy Transfer; D007700:Kinetics; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013499:Surface Properties; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D009569:Nitric Oxide