A self-consistent semiclassical approach to the inelastic scattering of atoms from solid surfaces

Abstract

A self-consistent semiclassical theory of inelastic scattering is developed using a boson Hamiltonian and a time-dependent Hartree solution. The quality of the self-consistent solution is shown to be dependent on the choice of initial state. Two choices of initial state are compared for a simple choice of interaction potential. The results of this analysis are applied to the inelastic scattering of atoms from metal surfaces considering either the electron–hole pair or the phonon models of energy dissipation. The calculation of sticking probabilities is considered.