MeV ion scattering for surface structure determination

In the last few years a number of groups around the world have been using energetic ion beam scattering from solids as a surface structure tool. These studies have been with energetic particles of greater than 0.1 MeV where scattering cross–sections and the flux distribution of the beam in the solid are well–understood. Low–energy ion scattering, ∼lKeV, which is very surface sensitive, continues as an important structural probe. However, the physics of the atomic collisions and the method of extraction of information are sufficiently different in these two regimes for each to obtain an individual character.