The sticking coefficient of H2 on Ni(111) as a function of particle energy and angle of incidence: A test of detailed balancing

The sticking coefficient of H2/Ni(111) changes proportionally to the beam energy. The angular distribution of the probability of adsorption varies with cos3.5θ; the angular distribution of desorption is found to change as cos4.5θ at 300 K. Assuming validity of detailed balancing, the adsorption data suggest an energy distribution for desorption which agrees with existing time-of-flight measurements.