Photodetachment of H– ion in perpendicular electric and magnetic fields near a metal surface

Abstract

The photodetachment of the H– ion in perpendicular electric and magnetic fields near a metal surface has been investigated on the basis of the semiclassical closed-orbit theory. Firstly, we give a clear physical picture of the detached electron’s movement and find out the closed orbits of this system. Then we put forward an analytical formula for calculating the photodetachment cross section. It is found that the perpendicular electric and magnetic fields can produce some interesting effects. As the magnetic field is relatively weak, the influence of the electric field and the electrostatic potential dominates and the oscillatory structure in the photodetachment cross section exhibits a smoothly oscillating curve. As we keep the electric field and the ion–surface distance unchanged, with the increase of the magnetic field strength, the number of closed orbits is increased and the oscillatory structure in the photodetachment cross section is characterized by broad Landau level envelops. Therefore, we can use the perpendicular electric and magnetic fields to control the photodetachment of H– near a metal surface. Our study may guide future experimental research on the photodetachment microscopy of negative ion in external fields near surfaces.