Isotope and Quantum Effects in Vibrational State Distributions of Photodesorbed Ammonia

A marked quantum effect has been observed in the vibrational state distribution of photodesorbed ammonia. Namely, for quantum numbers larger than zero, symmetric and antisymmetric levels in the {nu}{sub 2} mode of the desorbed ammonia molecule are unequally populated. A strong propensity for symmetric levels is observed for NH{sub 3}, whereas the reverse is found for ND{sub 3}. Model calculations reproduce this effect. Moreover, it is found that the actual ratios probe the binding energy in the energetically less favorable inverted geometry with the H atoms pointing towards the surface. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}