Helium atom scattering lattice vibrations

D. D. Koleske, Studies of surface vibrations and structure using molecular dynamics simulations, lattice dynamics calculations, and helium atom scattering, 1992)... 

It is intended for this chapter to be a brief introduction to surface lattice dynamics and to some of the kinds of information that one is able to obtain about the electronic and vibrational properties of surfaces through high-resolution helium atom scattering. Such information is critical to the understanding of many aspects of surface chemistry and to the design of novel materials with specifically desired properties. 

The ionic insulators discussed in some detail in the previous section have closed shell electronic configurations similar to the noble gases and electronic distributions which are localized around the electronic core. The principal interactions are Coulombic, although their polarizabilities appear to influence greatly the response of the electronic distribution to surface lattice vibrations. For other materials, particularly metals and some layered compounds, the conduction and valence electrons are best thought of as somewhat delocalized if not entirely free. These electrons are what the helium atoms scatter from, and their states of motion are significantly modulated by the vibrations of the atomic cores. Thus, for these materials HAS is very... 

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