Time dependence of desorbed ground-state lithium atoms following pulsed-electron-beam irradiation of lithium fluoride

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Abstract
Recent experiments have shown that during the irradiation of lithium fluoride crystals by a chopped electron beam the signal of desorbed ground-state lithium atoms continues for times up to seconds in the beam-off period. A quantitative model is presented which connects the desorption of lithium atoms with the diffusion of lithium fluoride F centers to the surface. The model thus introduces a new source of time delay (F-center diffusion) in the desorption of ground-state metal atoms from alkali halides. Formerly it has been supposed that the delay occurred entirely during the surface desorption step. The model fits the experimental data very well, and should be applicable to other similar systems. For the cases considered here, F-center diffusion turns out to be the primary source of delay in the Li-atom signal. The model suggests some new directions for investigation.