Influence of the bulk diffusion of rubidium and sodium atoms in glass on their surface dwell time

Abstract

This paper presents the results of measurement of the surface potential and the dwell time of Rb and Na atoms on the surface of S-52 molybdenum glass. It is found that at temperatures below the glass transition temperature, the temperature dependence of the dwell time of Rb atoms is well described by the Arrhenius formula. The surface potentials for Rb and Na are measured to be 0.67 and 1.37 eV, respectively. At temperatures above the glass transition temperature, the dwell time of these atoms increases abnormally. The reason for this is that during impact of an atom on the surface of molten glass, it can penetrate into the volume of the window and then return by diffusion and desorb from the surface. In this case, the dwell time of the atom on the glass is determined by the diffusion time and can be very significant, despite the relatively low potential barrier at the surface and high temperature.