Atom-surface scattering under classical conditions

Classical limit expressions of the differential reflection coefficient for atomiclike projectiles scattering from a surface are compared with recent experiments for the scattering of 200-eV Na⁺ ions from Cu(001). Good agreement with the experiment and with previous theoretical calculations for the temperature dependence of the peak widths is obtained. The calculations suggest that further comparisons with the scattered lobes will produce important information about the projectile interaction and about vibrational correlations at the surface. {} 1996 The American Physical Society.