Atomistic simulation of the interaction of slow protons with an iron surface

Summary We have studied the dynamical behaviour of low-energy protons (1.0 eV≤E _in≤50 eV) interacting with a Fe {100} surface atT=300 K, by means of molecular-dynamics simulations. The inelastic energy losses have been taken into account by means of a friction term proportional to the projectile velocity and depending on the instantaneous local electronic density experienced by the projectile. For a given incident energy and irradiation geometry, we have estimated the particle and energy reflection coefficients and obtained a detailed evaluation of the different contributions (elastic and inelastic) to the energy loss of the reflected particles.