Polarization dependence in the UV laser desorption of NO from NiO(100)

- and -polarized radiation. When the yield is related to the incident photon flux, desorption cross sections of (1.9±0.3)×10^-17 cm² and (3.3±0.5)×10^-17 cm² for - and -polarized light, respectively, are deduced. In order to assess the importance of substrate excitation the optical constants of NiO have been determined for the photon energy employed. When the desorption yield is then related to the photon flux absorbed in the NiO film, much larger cross sections are obtained, and an even larger effectiveness of -polarized light. For a direct optical excitation of charge transfer states the implications for the symmetry character of the states involved are discussed. It is concluded that excitations to A^′′ states are preferred.