Recent studies on laser induced gas-surface interactions with electronic excitation are briefly reviewed. These studies were carried out on the well-defined clean surfaces in ultra-high vacuum systems, and the main tool was a time of flight mass spectrometer. Two studies were reviewed in greater detail, i. e., the systems of CH
2I
2 on Al
2O
3 and Ag, and CH
3Cl on Ni (111). The former study revealed the characteristic electronic, thermal, and “explosive” desorption effects. The latter showed both direct photolysis and electron-transfer mediated fragmentation of the adsorbate on the metal surface.
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