Keynote article

Abstract
In most cases the interaction of a molecule with a metallic surface is well represented by an adiabatic ground-state interaction potential. Nonetheless, recent work has demonstrated the viability of non-adiabatic electronic pathways in some processes, such as surface photochemistry and exoelectron emission upon adsorption. The evidence for both types of processes will be discussed referring to two recently studied systems—photodissociation of adsorbed N2O4, and exoelectron emission during the oxidation of a caesium surface.