Calculations of the surface temperature rise and desorption temperature in laser-induced thermal desorption

The laser-induced thermal desorption (LITD) process is discussed with reference to measurements of the translational energies (temperatures) of desorbed molecules. We present simple expressions which predict both the surface temperature rise for a laser-heated surface and the desorption temperature in LITD. We show that these approximations are excellent descriptions of the laser heating and LITD processes. These expressions are convenient alternatives to numerical solutions of the heat conduction and desorption rate equations using the actual shape of a laser pulse and specific combinations of kinetic parameters.