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The rotationally inelastic scattering of HD(J = 0→, 1, 2, 3) from a clean Pt(111) surface is reported. Discrete peaks for each final J state are resolved in the in-plane angular distributions, with the inelastic peaks typically being large compared to the elastic peak. Sharp modulations of these inelastic transition probabilities were found as the incident angle was varied, suggesting bound level resonances. These resonances are inconsistent with G-vector mediated (elastic) selective adsorption, but are consistent with rotationally inelastic selective adsorption into the bound levels of the physisorption potential. Observation of bound level resonances can be used to determine molecule–surface potentials. However, unlike elastic selective adsorption, highly probable rotationally inelastic HD selective adsorption is applicable to metallic surfaces of low corrugation.
Cowin et al. (Wed,) studied this question.