title: Coverage-dependent quantum versus classical scattering of thermal neon atoms from Li/Cu(100).
abstract: We show that subtle variations in surface structure can enhance quantum scattering and quench atom-surface energy transfer. The scattering of thermal energy neon atoms from a lithium overlayer on a copper substrate switches between a classical regime, dominated by multiphonon interactions, and a quantum regime, dominated by elastic diffraction. The transition is achieved by simple tailoring of the lithium coverage and quantum scattering dominates only in the narrow coverage range of theta=0.3-0.6 ML. The results are described qualitatively using a modified Debye-Waller model that incorporates an approximate quantum treatment of the adsorbate-substrate vibration.
authors.affiliation: Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thompson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom. dmaclaren@physics.org
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Maclaren
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Allison