Momentum Transfer Cutoff in the Scattering of Neon Atoms from a Nickel (111) Surface

Abstract

Angle-resolved time-of-flight measurements of inelastic scattering of Ne atoms from a Ni(111) surface show an effective interaction radius increased with respect to the Ne hardsphere radius, such that the Ne atoms impact against five Ni atoms. This limits the interaction with acoustic surface waves to some critical cutoff wave vector, $K_c$. Larger energy transfers are accompanied by vanishing momentum transfer as assumed in a cubes model.