Photoionization of temperature-controlled nanoparticles in a beam: Accurate and efficient determination of ionization energies and work functions

Fuente: arXiv
Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Sheekhoon, Atef A., Haridy, Abdelrahman O., Pedalino, Sebastian, Kresin, Vitaly V.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2026
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1866911451939078144
author Sheekhoon, Atef A.
Haridy, Abdelrahman O.
Pedalino, Sebastian
Kresin, Vitaly V.
author_facet Sheekhoon, Atef A.
Haridy, Abdelrahman O.
Pedalino, Sebastian
Kresin, Vitaly V.
contents A beam of free alkali metal nanoparticles is produced by a condensation source, passed through a thermalizing tube adjustable over a broad temperature range, and ionized by tunable light. High stability of the particle flux and an automated data acquisition routine allow efficient collection of photoionization yield curves. A careful fit of the data to the universal Fowler function makes it possible to obtain nanoparticle ionization energies, and from those, the metal work functions, with $\sim$0.2% precision. The experimental arrangement, nanoparticle thermalization rates, and ionization threshold analysis are described in detail. The use of ultrapure and temperature-controlled gas-phase nanoparticles facilitates the analysis of electronic properties, such as work functions, and of their interplay with thermal lattice dynamics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_15426
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Photoionization of temperature-controlled nanoparticles in a beam: Accurate and efficient determination of ionization energies and work functions
Sheekhoon, Atef A.
Haridy, Abdelrahman O.
Pedalino, Sebastian
Kresin, Vitaly V.
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
Atomic and Molecular Clusters
Chemical Physics
A beam of free alkali metal nanoparticles is produced by a condensation source, passed through a thermalizing tube adjustable over a broad temperature range, and ionized by tunable light. High stability of the particle flux and an automated data acquisition routine allow efficient collection of photoionization yield curves. A careful fit of the data to the universal Fowler function makes it possible to obtain nanoparticle ionization energies, and from those, the metal work functions, with $\sim$0.2% precision. The experimental arrangement, nanoparticle thermalization rates, and ionization threshold analysis are described in detail. The use of ultrapure and temperature-controlled gas-phase nanoparticles facilitates the analysis of electronic properties, such as work functions, and of their interplay with thermal lattice dynamics.
title Photoionization of temperature-controlled nanoparticles in a beam: Accurate and efficient determination of ionization energies and work functions
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
Atomic and Molecular Clusters
Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.15426