Inversion of Randomly Corrugated Surfaces Structure from Atom Scattering Data

TL;DR

This paper uses the Sudden Approximation to invert atom scattering data, enabling the study of complex surface disorder on randomly corrugated surfaces through experimental observables.

Contribution

It derives new expressions linking scattering data to surface statistical features, expanding the use of atom scattering in surface disorder analysis.

Findings

Atom scattering can effectively probe complex surface disorder.

Derived expressions relate scattering intensities to surface features.

He atom scattering is particularly useful for studying surface roughness.

Abstract

The Sudden Approximation is applied to invert structural data on randomly corrugated surfaces from inert atom scattering intensities. Several expressions relating experimental observables to surface statistical features are derived. The results suggest that atom (and in particular He) scattering can be used profitably to study hitherto unexplored forms of complex surface disorder.