Abstract
A scanning-tunneling microscope has been used to induce efficient local desorption of benzene from Si(100) at low currents ( ), sample biases ( ) and temperatures (22 K). A theoretical model based upon first principles electronic structure calculations and quantum mechanical wave packet dynamics describes this process as occurring via transient ionization of a state of the adsorbed molecule. This model accounts for the unexpected efficiency and sharp threshold of the yield.
- Received 1 May 2000
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.5372
©2000 American Physical Society