Xe adsorption on Ag(111): Experiment

Abstract Precise structural and thermodynamic studies of Xe adsorbed on Ag(111) are made using low-energy diffraction. Spacings are measured relative to those of bulk adsorbed film. Effective equilibrium experiments are done using a directed gas beam and cryopumping. The density of only that gas in the coherently diffracting area is measured by the attenuation of the Ag(01) beam. With decreasing temperature at fixed gas flux one observes the sequential of 2D gas, monolayer, bilayer and bulk films. The effective pressure of the impinging gas is determined from the known bulk vapor pressure so bypassing absolute pressure measurements. The phase diagram, lattice spacings in the film at equilibrium and at zero pressure, latent heats of adsorption and isosteric heats are determined.