Desorption Induced by Electronic Transitions

Bombardment of a surface by electrons or photons can cause rupture of surface bonds and desorption from the surface, by inducing transitions to repulsive electronic states. The phenomenon of desorption induced by electronic transitions (DIET) includes both electron stimulated desorption (ESD) and photon stimulated desorption (PSD) [4.1–3]. DIET processes are of widespread importance in many areas of science and technology, including beam damage in surface analysis using x-rays or electrons, in electron and photon beam lithography, and in radiation physics of interstellar space, to name a few.