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.