info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Competition between electron and phonon excitations in the scattering of nitrogen atoms and molecules off tungsten and silver metal surfaces
Fecha
2012-02Registro en:
Martin Gondre, L.; Alducin, M.; Bocan, Gisela Anahí; Díez Muiño, R.; Juaristi, J. I.; Competition between electron and phonon excitations in the scattering of nitrogen atoms and molecules off tungsten and silver metal surfaces; American Physical Society; Physical Review Letters; 108; 9; 2-2012; 1-4
0031-9007
Autor
Martin Gondre, L.
Alducin, M.
Bocan, Gisela Anahí
Díez Muiño, R.
Juaristi, J. I.
Resumen
We investigate the role played by electron-hole pair and phonon excitations in the interaction of reactive gas molecules and atoms with metal surfaces. We present a theoretical framework that allows us to evaluate within a full-dimensional dynamics the combined contribution of both excitation mechanisms while the gas particle-surface interaction is described by an ab initio potential energy surface. The model is applied to study energy dissipation in the scattering of N2 on W(110) and N on Ag(111). Our results show that phonon excitation is the dominant energy loss channel, whereas electron-hole pair excitations represent a minor contribution. We substantiate that, even when the energy dissipated is quantitatively significant, important aspects of the scattering dynamics are well captured by the adiabatic approximation.