Analysis of surface composition with low-energy backscattered ions

The use of low-energy (< 3 keV) ion beam scattering to characterize the surface properties of solids is reviewed. The elemental composition of the first monolayer of surface atoms can be derived from the energy spectrum of backscattered noble gas ions. Positive identification of surface impurity atoms is based on a simple, yet valid collision model involving only the primary ion and a single, isolated surface atom. Backscattered active gas ion spectra, in contrast, yield little information due to pronounced background similar to that observed in the high-energy Rutherford scattering experiments. These differences are ascribed to complicated neutralization phenomena and can be minimized in single crystal targets by utilizing channeling effects. This simple technique is shown to offer several advantages over existing techniques for characterizing thin films.     

Scattering of Li+ from LEED characterized W(110) and Si (111) surfaces at energies between 2 and 20 eV

Energy and angular distributions of Li⁺ ions scattered from W(110) and Si(111) surfaces have been measured for a wide range of scattering angles and for beam energies between 2 and 20 eV. The collision process can be explained in terms of binary collisions with single surface atoms, if the influence of the attractive part of the interaction potential is taken into account. A square well approximation for the potential makes it possible to predict the form of the energy spectrum as well as the behaviour of the angular distribution of the scattered particles for both systems. The influence of adsorbed atoms and molecules on the scattering behaviour has been investigated. Exposure of the W surface to H₂, O₂ and CO shows that surface coverages exceeding 10% of a monolayer very drastically influence the scattering. The results from the clean surfaces indicate that sufficiently precise measurements of the energy spectra of the scattered particles can yield very detailed information about the form of the interaction potential. The form of the energy spectra also contains information as to the extent of vibrational excitation of the surface atoms.     

Accommodation coefficients for low-energy ions on metal surfaces

The interaction of low-energy ions (E = 3 to 100 eV) with the surface of a solid cannot be treated in terms of gas dynamics. The scattering of particles at an energy of E _o > 20 eV may be explained in terms of binary collisions with the atoms of the target. The validity of the single collision model with free surface atoms for medium energies from 10 to 100 eV and even down to 1 eV was confirmed on the basis of both experimental and computational data. This paper describes experimental studies of the secondary ion emission from the (100) and (110) faces of a Mo single crystal and both experimental and theoretical studies of alkaline ion accommodation coefficient on polycrystalline Mo within the energy range E = 3 to 50 eV with a varying direction of the primary ion beam from normal to the glancing angle of incidence (ρ = 0 to 75°). On the basis of the retarding potential method using a spherical condenser whose central electrode was the target, we measured the energy distribution of secondary ions. Calculations have been performed for the energy of scattered ions and the high energy portion of accommodation coefficient on the basis of single and double binary collisions using the Born-Mayer potential and taking into consideration the influence of adsorption forces at the surface of the target.     

Theory of ion scattering from single crystals

The scattering of He⁺, Ne⁺ and Ar⁺ ions at 600 eV from Ni(110) in the [11&#x0304;0] direction is modeled using classical dynamics. The distributions of final scattering angles of the primary ions are displayed as contour plots over the surface impact zone. From the contour plots the regions of the surface that give rise to scattering at specific angles can be isolated. The majority of the inplane scattering arises from collisions of the primary ion with second layer or “valley” atoms. However, to correctly reproduce the experimental energy distribution curves of Heiland and Taglauer (J. Vacuum Sci. Technol. 9 (1971) 620), we must include a simple collision time correction to account for neutralization of the ion beam. This analysis predicts that the ions which collide with second layer atoms of the solid are preferentially neutralized. The energy distributions due to first layer collisions agree well with experiment. We find that a full molecular three dimensional model is needed to describe all of the ion scattering events since for most of the collisions, the ion is simultaneously interacting with at least two atoms of the solid. However, in agreement with other workers we find only a single collision is responsible for the “binary” peak in the energy distribution. In addition the relative scattering intensity at different angles is dependent on having a three-dimensional solid.     

Scattering of low-energy atoms by metallic surfaces

The problem of a neutral low-energy atom impinging on a well-defined metallic surface is approached from first principles. The solid and its potential energy of interaction with the incident atom is treated in the most general way, but under the following assumptions: (a) the conduction electrons interact adiabatically with the lattice ions and the gas atom; (b) no chemical reactions occur; (c) the one-phonon approximation is valid. The scattering amplitudes for surface and bulk mode excitations are obtained in terms of the dynamical properties of the metallic surface. Direct collisions of the incident atoms with the lattice ions are shown to give a negligible contribution to the scattering. The most important contribution comes from the interaction of the gas atom with the surface conduction electrons; the excitation of lattice vibrational modes occurs through the electron-phonon term of the Hamiltonian. The general expressions for the scattering amplitudes obtained show that the scattering is incoherent. With further assumptions one obtains a separation of the scattering amplitude into a coherent and incoherent part.     

Energy distributions of low-energy noble gas ions backscattered from a single-crystal nickel surface

The energy distribution of noble gas ions in the energy range below 1 keV from a single-crystalline surface depends on the composition and the structure of the surface, the mass and energy of the impinging ions and the geometrical conditions (e.g. angle of incidence) of the experiment. In the case of He ions the kinematic binary collision theory can be applied. For Ne ions the scattering process is more complicated, good agreement between a multiple scattering model and the experiment is achieved. Deviations from this general behaviour are observed with heavier ions (Ar⁺) and at very low energies. The experimental evidence for the different processes is discussed.     

气体-表面相互作用的分子动力学模拟研究

采用分子动力学模拟方法研究了气体分子Ar在光滑和粗糙Pt表面上的散射规律.提出了一种速度抽样方法,计算了不同温度条件下气体分子对光滑和粗糙表面的切向动量适应系数和吸附概率.结果显示：光滑表面条件下,气体分子的切向动量系数和吸附概率都随着温度的升高而降低;粗糙度对气体分子切向动量与表面的适应具有极大的促进作用,当粗糙度足够大时,切向动量适应系数的大小趋近于1.0,对温度的敏感性也逐渐降低.采用粒子束方法对气体分子在光滑和粗糙表面上的散射规律进行了定量分析.总结了散射过程中气体分子的典型轨迹和动量变化规律,将气体分子在光滑表面的散射分为两种类型：单次碰撞后散射和多次碰撞后散射.单次碰撞后散射的气体分子平均切向动量有所减小,而经过多次碰撞后散射的气体分子则倾向于保持原有的平均切向动量.对于粗糙表面,粗糙度的存在使气体分子与表面间的动量和能量适应更加充分,导致气体分子在较粗糙表面上散射后的平均切向动量大幅减小并接近于0,且气体分子在表面上经历的碰撞次数越多,其散射后的能量损失越严重.     

Investigation of the local atomic arrangement on surfaces using low-energy ion scattering

Ions with energies around 1 keV are well suited for detecting atoms on solid surfaces and for investigating their relative arrangement. This is due to the large scattering cross-sections which are of the order of 10^–2Ų/sr. The conceptually simple method is limited by the fact that interaction potentials and, more so, charge exchange processes are only approximately known. Progress in low-energy ion scattering has recently been made by applying special scattering geometries and by using alkali ions, in addition to noble gas ions.Among the successful applications there are studies of the arrangement of atomic layers on supported catalysts, ordered adsorption systems on metal surfaces, surface reconstruction, and surface disordering due to defects and thermal motion. Energy spectra of recoil atoms and ions convey additional information. The fundamental physical features of low-energy ion scattering are discussed on the basis of examples of recent results.     

Structure investigation of the nitrogen induced Cu(110)−(2 × 3) phase with 180° low energy impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy

The 180° low energy impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy with detection of noble gas neutrals (180°-NICISS) has been used to investigate the nitrogen saturated Cu(110) surface, which is known to exhibit a (2 × 3) diffraction pattern. The nitrogen induced (2 × 3) phase appears to be the result of a surface reconstruction of a new missing row type, in which every third 100 row of Cu atoms of the first layer is missing. The 180° NICISS patterns further indicate within an accuracy of 0.1–0.2 Å, that the double periodicity in the [1 0] direction is not due to the reconstruction of the Cu surface. Its origin has to be found in the arrangement of the N atoms.     

Simulation of multiple scattering in argon ion collisions with an aluminum target at grazing angles of 5°–10°

A model for calculating the atom scattering from a polycrystalline surface consisting of randomly oriented single crystals is proposed. In the calculation it is possible to distinguish the contribution of scattering from any surface layer, and it also takes into account inelastic energy losses in primary ion collisions with target atoms. A comparison with the measurements shows that the proposed model well describes the peak positions in the energy spectra of the scattered atoms. A comparison of the calculated and experimental peak-to-background ratios for scattering from polycrystalline and amorphous targets allows a conclusion to be made about the degree of order of surface layers in the material under investigation.     

The effect of inelastic loss on the development of interatomic collision cascades

A theory of interatomic collision cascades in an infinite medium subject to inelastic energy loss (ionization slowdown) of particles is developed. Emphasis is on the angular and energy distributions of primary ions and cascade atoms upon slowdown. Analysis is performed under the assumption that single scattering of the particles follows the hard ball law, and the electronic stopping power of the medium is determined by the Lindhard formula. It is shown that the inclusion of slowdown directly in solving the Boltzmann transport equation radically changes the angular and energy spectra of the ions and cascade atoms obtained when the slowdown is ignored. Moreover, slowdown is the factor responsible for the anisotropy of the angular distributions of low-energy primary ions and cascade atoms.     

Two-body collisions and time dependent Hartree-Fock theory

The time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) theory is generalized in order to include the effect of two-body collisions (i.e. the residual interaction). This is achieved by adding a collision integral into the TDHF equations, similar to the one ordinarily used in the Boltzmann equation. It is shown, that two-body collisions arise from the imaginary part of the effective interaction between two nucleons whereas the Hartree-Fock field is associated to the real part of the same interaction. There is thus no double counting when the collisions are added to a single particle field. Various approximations for the collision integral are discussed and their accuracy evaluated. Special effort is made in order to obtain conserving approximations. It is shown that for discrete fields, energy as well as momentum conservation is achieved by off-shell scattering processes. In the light of a previous paper, it is argued that two-body collisions should dominate the irreversible processes above some critical energy (roughly 200 MeV per nucleon). Below this energy the irreversible effects due to the single particle field and the collisions are expected to be of the same order of magnitude.     

Scattering of CO and N(2) molecules by a graphite surface

Measurements of angular distributions for the scattering of well-defined incident beams of CO and N(2) molecules from a graphite surface are presented. The measurements were carried out over a range of graphite surface temperatures from 150 to 400?K and a range of incident translational energies from 275 to over 600?meV. The behavior of the widths, positions and relative intensities of the angular distributions for both CO and N(2) were found to be quite similar. The experimental measurements are discussed in comparison with calculations using a classical mechanical model that describes single collisions with a surface. Based on the behavior of the angular distributions as functions of temperature and incident translational energy, and the agreement between measured data and calculations of the single-collision model, it is concluded that the scattering process is predominantly a single collision with a collective surface for which the effective mass is significantly larger than that of a single carbon atom. This conclusion is consistent with that of earlier experiments for molecular beams of O(2) molecules and Xe atoms scattering from graphite. Further calculations are carried out with the theoretical molecular scattering model in order to predict translational and rotational energy transfers to and from the molecule during scattering events under similar initial conditions.     

Recent positron-atom cross section measurements and calculations

We review recent cross section results for low-energy positron scattering from atomic targets. A comparison of the latest measurements and calculations for positron collisions with the noble gases and a brief update of the newest studies on other atoms is presented. In particular, we provide an overview of the cross sections for elastic scattering, positronium formation, direct and total ionisation, as well as total scattering, at energies typically between about 0.1 and a few hundred eV. We discuss the differences in the current experimental data sets and compare those results to the available theoretical models. Recommended data sets for the total cross section are also reported for each noble gas. A summary of the recent developments in the scattering from other atoms, such as atomic hydrogen, the alkali and alkaline-earth metals, and two-electron systems is finally provided.     

Excitation and Quencing of Rotational Energy Levels of the О3 Ozone Molecule by Collisions with Noble Gas Atoms (Ar and He)

Russian Physics Journal - The scattering cross sections of rotational excitations of O3 by collisions with noble gas atoms (Ar and He) have been calculated using the two-body scheme implemented in...     

On the accuracy of the BGK model for ion drift in own gas

The model of collisions of ions with gas atoms, considering resonant charge exchange of ions, polarization and elastic (gas-kinetic) interactions is constructed. Ion drift characteristics in the dc electric field are calculated. The results are compared to calculations based on the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook model collision integral (BGK integral). It is shown that the use of the BGK collision integral leads to significant errors due to the specificity of ion-atom collisions.     

Zur Theorie der Rückstreuung

Electrons emitted from a cathode, are partially backscattered to the cathode surface by collisions with gas molecules. No equilibrium between electrons, gas and field is presumed for a theoretical treatment of this process, in contrary to the conception of Thomson [1]; instead of it the effect of single collisions is investigated assuming isotropy of scattering. The collision numbers, which may be calculated from successive integral transforms, are shown to form a monotone decreasing sequence. In the field-free case the collision numbers and the back diffusion rates for the first collisions may be explicitely stated; the convergence of this method is rather poor, however. A model for back diffusion in an electric field, whereby the effect of primary collisions only is considered, is completely treatable. The results depend on the angular and energy-distribution of the emitted electrons. A comparison with other formulas and with experimental results for back scattering shows a better agreement between the latter and our equations than in the case of the Thomson-Loeb relation. The consequences on the theory of cathode fall are briefly discussed.     

The prospects of sympathetic cooling of NH molecules with Li atoms

We calculate the quartet potential energy surface for Li+NH and use it to calculate elastic and spin-relaxation cross sections for collisions in magnetically trappable spin-stretched states. The potential is strongly anisotropic but spin-relaxation collisions are still suppressed by centrifugal barriers when both species are in spin-stretched states. In the ultracold regime, both the elastic and inelastic cross sections fluctuate dramatically as the potential is varied because of Feshbach resonances. The potential-dependence is considerably reduced at higher energies. The major effect of using an unconverged basis set in the scattering calculations is to shift the resonances without changing their general behaviour. We have calculated the ratio of elastic and spin-relaxation cross sections, as a function of collision energy and magnetic field, for a variety of potential energy surfaces. Most of the surfaces produce ratios that are favorable for sympathetic cooling, at temperatures below about 20 mK.     

Extracting Information About Few-Body Breakup Thresholds from High-Energy Collisions

We show that the analysis of high-energy collisions provides an alternative, and sometimes advantageous, method of gathering information on a breakup system at threshold. We demonstrate the applicability of this approach by extracting the s-wave scattering length a₀ for the collision of electrons by neutral atoms in metastable states from measurements of photo- and collisional detachment of electrons from negative ions and electron capture to continuum states of neutral projectiles in atomic ionization collisions. Finally, we discuss how to generalize these ideas to gather information about an N-body threshold behavior.Fax: +54 2944 445299, Phone: +54 2944 445234