Abstract
A marked quantum effect has been observed in the vibrational state distribution of photodesorbed ammonia. Namely, for quantum numbers larger than zero, symmetric and antisymmetric levels in the mode of the desorbed ammonia molecule are unequally populated. A strong propensity for symmetric levels is observed for , whereas the reverse is found for . Model calculations reproduce this effect. Moreover, it is found that the actual ratios probe the binding energy in the energetically less favorable inverted geometry with the H atoms pointing towards the surface.
- Received 22 August 1996
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.1174
©1997 American Physical Society