Comparative study of electronically induced desorption from pre-irradiated solid Ar and Ar excited with an electron beam

Relaxation processes in films of solid Ar irradiated with low-energy electrons were studied with emphasis on the recently found phenomenon – anomalous low temperature desorption (ALTD) of rare gas atoms from pre-irradiated rare gas solids. A combination of optical and current activation spectroscopy methods were used; thermally stimulated luminescence, thermally stimulated exoelectron emission as well as measurement of the total desorption yield. The measurements were performed simultaneously in real time. Analysis of the data provides solid evidence of a two-stage mechanism for ALTD: (i) thermally assisted release of electrons from their traps followed by (ii) intrinsic charge recombination. The dose behavior and efficiency of the ALTD in comparison with desorption induced by electronic transition under an electron beam is discussed.