Wave packet calculations for helium scattering by a xenon monolayer

The interaction of low energy helium atomic beams with a rigid monolayer of xenon atoms was studied with a pseudo spectral wave packet method. The calculated diffraction intensities were compared to experimental scan curve data, finding similar trends in the relative values of the peaks. The calculated elastic diffraction patterns were strongly asymmetric for beams incident along directions other than Gamma K and Gamma M, supporting the argument that the inelastic scattering will also be very sensitive for experimental angles of incidence which deviate slightly from the high-symmetry directions. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.