Quantum dynamics of laser-induced desorption from metal and semiconductor surfaces, and related phenomena

Recent progress towards a quantum theory of laser-induced desorption and related phenomena is reviewed, for specific examples. These comprise the photodesorption of NO from Pt(111), the scanning tunnelling microscope and laser-induced desorption and switching of H at Si(100), and the electron stimulated desorption and dissociation of CO at Ru(0001). The theoretical methods used for nuclear dynamics range from open-system density matrix theory over nonadiabatically coupled multi-state models to electron-nuclear wavepackets. Also, aspects of time-dependent spectroscopy to probe ultrafast nonadiabatic processes at surfaces will be considered for the example of two-photon photoemission of solvated electrons in ice layers on Cu(111).