[en] Fast helium atoms diffracted at alkali-halide surfaces under grazing angles of incidence exhibit intriguing diffraction patterns. The persistence of quantum coherence is remarkable, considering high surface temperatures and high (keV) kinetic energies of the incident atoms. Dissipative and decohering effects such as the momentum transfer between the incident helium atoms and the surface influence the diffraction patterns and control the width of the diffraction peaks, but they are weak enough to preserve the visibility of the diffration patterns. We perform an ab initio simulation of the quantum diffraction of fast helium beams at a LiF (100) surface in the < 110 > direction. Our results agree well with recent experimental diffraction data.
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
Aigner, F.; Technische Universität Wien = Vienna University of Technology - TU Vienna > nstitute for Theoretical Physics
Simonovic, N.; Technische Universität Wien = Vienna University of Technology - TU Vienna, Institute for Theoretical Physics / Institute of Physics, Belgrad
Solleder, B.; Technische Universität Wien = Vienna University of Technology - TU Vienna > Institute of Physics
Wirtz, Ludger ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS > IEMN
Burgdörfer, Joachim; Technische Universität Wien = Vienna University of Technology - TU Vienna > Institute of Physics
Language :
English
Title :
Fast-Atom Diffraction at Surfaces
Publication date :
2009
Journal title :
Journal of Physics. Conference Series
ISSN :
1742-6588
eISSN :
1742-6596
Publisher :
Institute of Physics Publishing IOP, Bristol, United Kingdom
Special issue title :
XXVI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PHOTONIC, ELECTRONIC AND ATOMIC COLLISIONS
Volume :
194
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Commentary :
JUL 22-28, 2009
Western Michigan Univ
26th International Conference on Photonic, Electronic and Atomic Collisions
Kalamazoo
MI
Orel, AE Starace, AF Nikolic, D Berrah, N Gorczyca, TW Kamber, EY Tanis, JA
CRYOGENIC Ltd, IOP, Kalamazoo Cty Convent & Visitors Bur, Natl Electrostat Corp, PhysMath Cent, RoentDek Handels GmbH, Taylor & Francis Grp, WIENER Corp, WMU, Dept Phys, WMU, Coll Arts & Sci, WMU, Off Vice President Res, WMU, Grad Coll, WMU, Diether H Haenicke Inst Global Educ