title: Scattering of hyperthermal nitrogen atoms from the Ag(111) surface.
abstract: Measurements on scattering of hyperthermal N atoms from the Ag(111) surface at temperatures of 500, 600, and 730 K are presented. The scattered atoms have a two-component angular distribution. One of the N components is very broad. In contrast, scattered Ar atoms exhibit only a sharp, single-component angular distribution. There are noteworthy features in the angle-resolved energy of the scattered N when compared with Ar. Taking into account the relative masses involved, N atoms lose significantly more energy at the surface than Ar. However, there is a preferential loss mechanism that predominantly affects low-energy N atoms with small total scattering angle trajectories. The results are interpreted in terms of probing of different interaction potentials: strongly attractive and almost purely repulsive, and spin-state changes during the interaction of N with the surface appear probable.
authors.affiliation: FOM Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen, Euratom FOM Association, P.O. Box 1207, 3430 BE Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueta
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gleeson
authors.forename: Aart W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kleyn