Study of surface dissociation in KCl and LiF by observation of plasmon losses associated with K and Li

Abstract

Peaks in the characteristic energy loss spectra of KCl and LiF obtained with an incident electron beam of 500 eV, have been associated with plasmon excitations in the alkali metal layer formed on the surface of these crystals by electron irradiation stimulated dissociation. The irradiation time and temperature dependence of these peaks seem to confirm this interpretation. Auger electron spectroscopy gives good qualitative agreement with previous results.