How do hydrogen atoms on surfaces affect the trajectories of heavier scattered atoms?

• Published in: The Journal of chemical physics 1999-12, Vol.111 (24), p.11095-11100
• Main Authors: Lui, K. M., Bolotin, I., Kutana, A., Bykov, V., Lau, W. M., Rabalais, J. W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0021-9606; 1089-7690
• DOI: 10.1063/1.480468

The recently developed technique of scattering and recoiling imaging spectrometry (SARIS) is used to probe the effect of hydrogen atoms on the trajectories of 5 keV Ne+ scattering from a Pt(111) surface. Classical kinematic calculations and ion trajectory simulations, using the scattering and recoiling imaging code (SARIC), are carried out in order to probe the details of the interaction and the nature of the perturbation. It is demonstrated that adsorbed hydrogen atoms are capable of deflecting these low kilo-electron-volt Ne trajectories scattering from a Pt surface. These perturbations result in spatial shifts and broadenings of the anisotropic features of the SARIS images that are readily detectable. The scattered Ne atoms lose 0–18% of their initial kinetic energy as a result of the perturbation by the H atoms. The physics of the perturbation on the trajectories can be understood from straightforward classical kinematic calculations and SARIC ion trajectory simulations.