Redistribution of Internal Energy of Molecules Scattered from Solid Surfaces

Abstract

A novel experimental method for the spectroscopy of nonbeam low density gas has been developed to probe the interaction between molecules and solid surfaces. Translational and rotational temperatures of the molecules scattered from solid surfaces are measured as a function of surface temperature. The results are critically dependent on the kind of surfaces (glass, graphite, silver, mica, and molybdenum oxide). A new model describing the mechanism of energy transfer from solid surfaces to molecules is proposed. A good agreement between observation and calculation is obtained.