Quantum scattering of fast atoms and molecules on surfaces

We present evidence for the diffraction of light keV atoms and molecules grazingly scattered on LiF(001) and NaCl(001) surfaces. At such energies, the de Broglie wavelength is 2 orders of magnitude smaller that the mean thermal atomic displacement in the crystal. Thus, no coherent scattering was expected and interaction of keV atoms with surfaces is routinely treated with classical mechanics. We show here that well-defined diffraction patterns can be observed indicating that, for grazing scattering, the pertinent wavelength is that associated with the slow motion perpendicular to the surface. The experimental data are well reproduced by an ab initio calculation.