Ionic motion delocalization

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... 

---