Atoms with energies of several electronvolts are ejected if small metal particles are illuminated with low-intensity visible laser light. The desorption rate exhibits a resonant behavior with its maximum at λ=490 nm for particles of 50 nm average radius. The novel process is explained by a mechanism of laser-induced desorption that is based on surface-plasmon excitation.

• Received 18 December 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.60.1649