Scattering of neutral NH3 clusters off LiF(100): angular distributions of NH3 and small clusters

The scattering behavior of neutral ammonia clusters off a LiF(100) surface is studied. Ammonia clusters are produced by a coexpansion of NH₃ and Kr with an average kinetic energy of 48 meV per monomer molecule. Using single photon VUV laser ionization at λ = 118 nm (hv = 10.49 eV) the mass distribution of scattered particles is obtained in a reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Compared with the incoming cluster beam the average cluster size of the scattered particles is drastically decreased. The angular distribution of NH ₃ ⁺ and NH ₄ ⁺ after scattering reveals a strong inelastic interaction between the clusters and the LiF(100) surface which is described in the context of a thermokinetic model and a phonon excitation along the (001) azimuth of the LiF(100) surface.