Infrared laser-induced photodesorption of adsorbed and condensed phases

Infrared laser-induced photodesorption occurs via pulsed excitation of internal vibrational modes of molecules adsorbed on surfaces. A review of these experiments is given. Excitation of the second overtone of the molecule-surface bond has been proposed theoretically as alternative photodesorption channel. Experimental results are reported for CO-Cu(100). No desorption was detected even though the overtone occurred within the CO2 laser range and incident intensities up to 100 MW/cm2 were used. © 1986.