Perturbation theory of scattering for grazing-incidence fast-atom diffraction

Area of Science:

• Surface science
• Atomic and molecular physics
• Scattering theory

Background:

• Grazing-incidence, fast atom diffraction (GIFAD) experiments observe energy-dependent rainbow angles.
• Classical perturbation theory is a common analytical tool for scattering phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the relationship between rainbow angles and incident energy in GIFAD experiments.
• To investigate the information content of "dynamic corrugation" in scattering.

Main Methods:

• Analytical treatment of GIFAD data using classical perturbation theory.
• Analysis of the energy dependence of classical rainbow angles.

Main Results:

• The "dynamic corrugation" amplitude is proportional to the tangent of the rainbow angle in first-order perturbation theory.
• The energy dependence of rainbow angles provides information on the interaction force field.

Conclusions:

• The "dynamic corrugation" amplitude offers no additional information beyond the rainbow angle and its energy dependence.
• The energy dependence of rainbow angles can be inverted to determine the projectile-surface interaction force field.