Determination of the surface Debye temperature using quasi-triple collisions in low energy ion scattering, ch. 4

Energy spectra of heavy low energy noble gas ions, specularly reflected from a monocrystalline surface into small scattering angles, show the existence of a quasi-triple collision peak. The occurence of this QT peak results from scattering from 'three atom pit' structures, present at the surface due to thermal vibrations of the target atoms. The temperature behaviour of this peak provides the possibility of estimating the magnitude of atomic thermal displacements. This possibility is, to a great extent, independent of uncertainties introduced by a lack of knowledge about charge exchange effects and the actual interaction potential. In this investigation, the surface Debye temperature of a copper (100) surface is obtained by comparing experimental and calculational results of 10 keV Kr+ ions scattered along different low index directions at the surface