Atomic and Molecular Diffraction of Helium and Deuterium from a Tungsten Carbide Surface Characterized by Low-Energy Electron Diffraction

Abstract

The diffraction of thermal beams of helium and deuterium has been observed from a carbide overlayer on tungsten (110). The diffraction grating derived from the atomic and molecular diffraction agrees with that determined by electron diffraction. Peaks through second order have been resolved and helium peaks are characterized by extremely high intensities and narrow half-widths. Use of atomic diffraction to study species which adsorb in a regular array is suggested.