Abstract

Chemical and physical processes occurring at solid-gas or solid-liquid interfaces may be significantly influenced by the rates and pathways of vibrational energy transfer (VET) within adsorbate and substrate surface vibrational modes. Knowledge of VET rates may enhance understanding of reactions at surfaces (e.g., heterogeneous catalysis, etching, corrosion). Interpretation of the vibrational spectroscopy of molecules on surfaces (e.g., spectral linewidths and shifts) requires similar knowledge. Energy accommodation, sticking, mobility, and desorption of molecules are all processes related to VET for molecules on surfaces.

© 1986 Optical Society of America