Energy loss in fast-particle surface scattering at grazing incidence

The surface scattering of kilovolt-energy ions and atoms at glancing-incidence angles has contributed substantially to knowledge of elementary electronic excitations in the interface region. We consider the influence of inelastic exchange of mechanical energy, due to recoil of the target atoms, on the distribution of scattered projectile atoms. Although with a glancing-incident-angle geometry the relative energy loss by this mechanism is small, it can have a substantial effect on the angular distribution of the scattered particles. These conclusions are supported by numerical calculations of energy losses and scattered particle distributions