Resonances in low-energy rare-gas atom scattering

Precise values of energies and widths of low-lying resonances in some rare-gas atom systems (Ar-Ar, Ne-Kr, Ne-Xe) are reported.     

Rotational excitations in muonic atom scattering by molecular hydrogen

A computational scheme based on the infinite order sudden approximation (IOS) is proposed for treating molecular and screening effects in muonic atom scattering at low energies. With this scheme the differential (dσ/dΩ(ɛj← 0|θ) and the total σ_tot(ɛ) cross-sections of muonic atom scattering on molecules of hydrogen isotopes are calculated at energies ɛ_rot=ℏω_I⩽ɛ⩽ɛ_vib= ℏω_03BD;. The IOS permits a quantitative analysis of the dependence of the differential cross-sections on the scattering angle and on the rotational excitations, particularly the rotational rainbow effects. An attractive feature of this approach is also to include the energy and the angular dependencies in the “input” cross-sections describing the muonic atom scattering on each bare nucleus of the molecule. The calculated total cross-sections ω_tot(ɛ) are in agreement with the data obtained earlier with the pseudopotential approach. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Statistical model of an atom in electron scattering calculations

The parameters describing scattering of electrons by atoms, which usually involve multiple integration of the atomic potentials, may be severely affected by the accuracy of these potentials. In the present work an iterative procedure is proposed providing a sequence of solutions of the Thomas-Fermi equation with increasing accuracy. Such a sequence makes it possible to establish the sensitivity of a given parameter to the accuracy of the atomic potential, and consequently to determine the accurate value of this parameter. Based on the present solutions, the differential scattering cross-sections for the Thomas-Fermi atom are calculated, and are found to deviate from the literature data.     

Positron scattering from hydrogen atom embedded in weakly-coupled plasmas

Elastic scattering of positrons from the hydrogen atoms in weakly-coupled plasmas has been studied using an expression for partial wave scattering amplitude that has been derived within the framework second order distorted wave Born approximation. The interactions among the charged particles in the plasma have been represented by Debye-Hückel potentials. A detailed study has been made on differential and total cross sections in the energy range 20–300 eV. To the best of our knowledge such a study on the differential and total cross sections for elastic positron-hydrogen collisions in a weakly-coupled plasma environment is reported for the first time in the literature.     

Excitations of the orbital order in RMnO3 manganites: light scattering experiments

Raman spectroscopy was used to seek out the orbital excitations in orbitally ordered RMnO3. The high energy Raman peaks are found to correspond to second and third order phonons which couple in some degree to the orbital order. Franck-Condon-type Raman resonance of multiphonons is observed but the cross sections are smaller than expected. A surging emission band at 1.5 eV, detected at high temperatures, disappears when the orbital order is established. The crossing of the configurational coordinate diagrams of the localized 3d Mn lowest levels, in the orbitally ordered state, originates the nonradiative relaxation and the quenching of the luminescence.     

Dynamics of atom scattering from 4He nanoclusters

We present a microscopic theory and results of atom scattering calculations to determine the dispersion of surface modes (ripplons) of superfluid helium-4 nanodroplets, expanding previous work [J. Chem. Phys. 115, 10161 (2001)]. A quantum transport formalism is adapted to the many-body scattering problem, yielding both elastic and inelastic fluxes. We demonstrate that, in analogy to the dynamic structure function S(k,ω) obtained from neutron scattering, a dynamic structure function σ(k,ω) can be obtained from ³He scattering. The ³He dynamic structure function σ(k,ω) is sensitive to surface dynamics, whereas the neutron dynamic structure function S(k,ω) is dominated by bulk-like excitations, in particular by rotons. Unlike for neutron-scattering, the total inelastic cross section for atom-scattering on ⁴He nanodroplets is large which we believe makes experimental detection feasible. We also show that scattering identical particles, i.e. ⁴He atoms, does not provide information about the dispersion of surface modes. Instead, inelastically scattered ⁴He atoms preferably lose roughly half their energy.     

Light atom scattering from adsorbates at low coverage

A multiple scattering theory is developed for the scattering of light atoms from a disordered adsorbate on a smooth surface. Using gas phase potentials for adatom potentials, excellent agreement is found with data for He scattering from adsorbed Xe and surprisingly good agreement with the extensive data for He scattering from adsorbed CO. The attractive adatom potential must be included in the calculation if quantitative comparison with experimental data is to be made. An important contribution to the total cross section of an adatom are quantum mechanical oscillations similar to glory oscillations in gas phase scattering. The dependence of the total cross section on the incident angle is strongly influenced by the varying number of adatoms seen by the probe.     

Semiclassical description of inelastic atom scattering by surfaces

Inelastic scattering of atoms of moderate energies (say<5 eV) by solid surfaces is almost entirely due to energy exchange with lattice vibrations. It can give valuable information about the atom-surface interaction potential and the vibrational dynamics at surfaces. Theoretically this process represents a challenging many-body problem, calling for suitable approximation methods. Work in progress (K. Burke, L. D. Chang, and W. Kohn) is described. (1) We have solved a simple model problem in which the normal modes of the lattice are schematized by a single one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, initially in its ground state (T=0). The classical solution gives a unique energy loss. We have calculated the leading quantum correction and find a Gaussian final energy distribution whose width is proportional toh ^1/2. Our exact results are in general different from the so-called trajectory approximation. (2) We are about to propose a new type of atom-surface scattering experiment, which will provide a direct measure of the quantum corrections to classical scattering.     

The spectroscopy of surface vibrations by atom scattering

The recent progress in the production of highly monochromatic atomic beams is opening new perspectives in surface physics, having paved the way for a full determination of the surface vibrational structure. After a discussion on the possible determination of Rayleigh wave dispersion curves from angular distributions exploiting the kinematical focussing effect, a short review is presented on the direct measurement of surface phonon dispersion curves, first achieved by Brusdeylins, Doak and Toennies in alkali halides, from time-of-flight (TOF) spectra of scattered He atoms. A comparison is made with the existing theories of surface phonons in ionic crystals. The state of the art in the theory of inelastic processes is briefly illustrated in order to discuss the theoretical interpretation of TOF spectra. The one-phonon energy loss spectra of He scattering from LiF(001) calculated for a hard corrugated surface model are found to be in general good agreement with the experimental TOF spectra. From such a comparison evidence is obtained that: i) one-phonon processes are predominant, and ii) in addition to Rayleigh waves important contributions to the inelastic scattering come from the surface-projected density of bulk phonons. Important effects due to inelastic resonances with surface bound states are put in evidence and explained by simple kinematical arguments. The possible observation of surface optical modes in NaF(001) is finally discussed.     

Time-delayed laser scattering in a multi-level atom with Raman resonance

A general theory of time-delayed coherent scattering in an atomic medium is presented. Two short laser pulses are incident on the atom initially, followed by a third laser at a later time. Detailed time dependent expressions for the atomic coherence and the third order dipole matrix elements are obtained. We have included the effects of excited level population, phase matching, single and two-photon resonances, and atomic relaxation and dephasing. Detailed discussions are given for the case where the first two lasers are in a Raman resonance withthe atomic system. Some useful features of this type of scattering, for example, background elimination, are also pointed out.     

Multiphonon resonances in the Debye-Waller factor of atom surface scattering

He atom surface scattering by dispersionless phonons is treated employing coupled channel (CC) calculations. At low energies, they predict a behavior opposite to perturbative Born or "exponentiated" Born approximation: strong resonant phonon stimulated elastic and inhibited inelastic scattering. The corresponding resonances have not been observed in earlier CC results since these have considered only the temperature dependence of the Debye-Waller factor at higher energy or omitted the attractive well. The resonances can be interpreted in terms of bound states in the attractive well with several excited vibrational quanta. They may be observable for, e.g., He scattering by a cold Xe/Cu surface.     

Dispersion relation for elastic electron-hydrogen atom forward scattering amplitude

The elastic e + H forward scattering amplitude is an analytical function in the complex energy E plane and has two cuts on the real axis: 0 < E < ∞ and ?∞ < E < ?B, B being the hydrogen ionization potential. The e+H dispersion relation contains two integrals over the right and left cuts.     

Note on incoherent photon scattering by a statistical atom

The incoherent X-ray scattering by a statistical atom is studied for the screening function restored by using the experimental energy distribution of atomic electrons.     

High-resolution H atom scattering from NaCl(001)

The NaCl(001) surface is studied using an H atom beam at energies of 76.3 and 86.3 meV. Elastic diffractive scattering is investigated under different incident angles and crystal orientations. Selective adsorption resonances are measured, determining experimentally the energy levels of the H atom bound to the surface. The energy spectrum is reproduced reasonably by a Morse potential with a well depth D = 29.2 meV and a range parameter k = 0.04 nm^?1.     

Inelastic scattering of charged particles by a statistical atom

The angular and energy distribution of secondary electrons ejected in collisions of heavy charged particles has been calculated in the binary encounter approximation using the statistical Thomas-Fermi method. Comparisons are made with reported experimental results.     

Elastic scattering of electrons by hydrogen atom in a laser field

The cross-sections for the elastic scattering of electrons by hydrogen atoms in the presence of a laser field have been calculated in the Glauber and the Born approximations. The Born approximation has been found to underestimate the cross-sections and the increase of the intensity of the electromagnetic field is found to lower the cross sections.