Charge Transfer Activation Energy for Alkali Atoms on Rhenium and Tantalum

Ion and atom desorption energies for five alkali metals on rhenium and tantalum were determined using the ion thermal emission noise method. The activation energies for the charge transfer process in the adsorbed state were calculated using a special energetic balance equation, which describes the surface ionization and thermal desorption effect. Energies for desorption of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium from Re and Ta surfaces were determined by measuring the time autocorrelation function of the ion thermoemission current fluctuations.