Photodetachment of H－ ion in a uniform electric field near a metal surface

Abstract

Using the closed orbit theory, we calculate the photodetachment cross section of H-ion in a uniform electric field near a metal surface. The results show that the photodetachment cross section of H- near the threshold has a significant change after the metal surface has been placed in the uniform electric field. Compared with the situation of the photodetachment of H- ion in a single uniform electric field, the oscillating amplitude of the photodetachment cross section of this system is increased and the oscillating frequency is decreased. If we keep the electric field strength at a given value, we find that with the increase of the distance between the metal surface and the H- ion, the oscillating amplitude of the photodetachment cross section decreases and the oscillating frequency increases. When the ion-to-surface distance increases to a certain value, the influence of the metal surface disappeared, and the photodetachment cross section approaches the photodetachment cross section of H- in a uniform electric field.