Threshold energy for the photon-stimulated desorption of Rb atoms from polydimethylsiloxane films

The laser frequency dependence of the photon-stimulated desorption (PSD) of Rb atoms from surfaces prepared by adsorption of rubidium vapor on thin films of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was determined at low light intensities and at room temperature to have a threshold energy of 11 100 cm−1. The desorption of Rb follows the same functional dependence on laser frequency and intensity as that found for Na and Na2, where thresholds of 9500 and 11 500 cm−1 were determined, respectively, and where a charge transfer model for the adsorbed species could successfully explain the 2000 cm−1 difference in energy thresholds.