The sudden approximation for scattering from noncrystalline surfaces: Applications to models of adsorbed impurities and to mixed overlayers

A. T. Yinnon, R. B. Gerber, D. K. Dacol, H. Rabitz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

It was recently proposed that the sudden approximation should be a powerful tool for the calculation of the angular intensity distribution in high-energy atom scattering from disordered surfaces. In the present study the sudden approximation is applied to scattering from one- and two-dimensional models of: (1) Isolated adsorbed impurities on crystalline surfaces (Ar on Cu); (2) Mixed overlayers on an underlying surface (Xe+Ar mixtures on a smooth surface). The results are tested against numerically exact quantum-mechanical wave packet calculations. Except for very low collision energies, the sudden approximation gives results of excellent quantitative accuracy for both types of noncrystalline surfaces. At low energies, several features of the intensity distribution are not produced correctly by the sudden: These are found to be due mainly to double collision effects. The accuracy and validity range of the method are discussed in the light of the results obtained in the test calculations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5955-5961
Number of pages7
JournalThe Journal of chemical physics
Volume84
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1985

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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