Photoemission from sodium on ice: a mechanism for positive and negative charge coexistence in the mesosphere

J Phys Chem B. 2006 Mar 9;110(9):3860-3. doi: 10.1021/jp0571630.

Abstract

Photoemission from sodium deposited on ice films is described. Deposition of 0.02 ML of sodium is found to dramatically reduce the threshold for photoemission from the ice film to (2.3+/-0.2) eV. Thus, the cross-section for photoemission reaches >10(-18) cm2 in the visible region of the spectrum. It is proposed that the initial state is a solvated electron on the ice surface, which is supported by optical transmission spectroscopy. The potential significance of these results in understanding unexplained charging phenomena in the mesosphere is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Atmosphere / chemistry*
  • Ice*
  • Light*
  • Photochemistry
  • Photons
  • Sodium / chemistry*
  • Sodium / radiation effects*
  • Surface Properties
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Ice
  • Sodium