Work function changes produced by chemisorption due to site heterogeneity

A quantum theory of elastic scattering of atoms from crystal surfaces is presented, based on a hard corrugated surface model. It is shown in detail how the rainbow effect arises and determines the diffraction probabilities, such a rainbow effect being the quantum analogon of McClure's classical rainbow. Further topics considered are the influence of a potential well and the reasons why diffraction hardly occurs from metal surfaces. The basis for a possible extension to inelastic scattering is sketched.