Direct observation and theory of trajectory-dependent electronic energy losses in medium-energy ion scattering

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Mar 6;102(9):096103. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.096103. Epub 2009 Mar 6.

Abstract

The energy spectrum associated with scattering of 100 keV H+ ions from the outermost few atomic layers of Cu(111) in different scattering geometries provides direct evidence of trajectory-dependent electronic energy loss. Theoretical simulations, combining standard Monte Carlo calculations of the elastic scattering trajectories with coupled-channel calculations to describe inner-shell ionization and excitation as a function of impact parameter, reproduce the effects well and provide a means for far more complete analysis of medium-energy ion scattering data.