Scattering of fast atoms and ions by a crystalline surface: orientation effects

The features of the scattering of accelerated neutral atoms upon sliding interactions with crystalline surfaces are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the phenomenon of rainbow scattering of neutral atoms upon their reflection from an oriented crystalline surface. The physical causes of the arising effects and the possibility of reconstructing the two-particle “polarization” and “dynamic” ion–atom interaction potentials from the experimental data are considered.