Issue 23, 2022

Measuring surface phonons using molecular spin-echo

Abstract

A new method to measure surface phonons with a molecular beam is presented. The method extends the principles of 3He spin-echo spectroscopy, to the more complex case of a molecular beam exchanging energy with the surface. Measurements are presented for inelastic scattering of D2 from a Cu(111) surface. Similarly to helium spin-echo, experiments can be performed along optimal tilted projections making it possible to resolve energy peaks with a high energy resolution which is not restricted by the spread of energies of the incident beam. Two analysis methods for these molecular spin echo experiments are presented. A classical approach, analogous to that used for helium spin-echo, explains the most dominant excitation peaks measured, whereas a semi-classical approach allows us to identify smaller peaks which are related to the complexity of the multiple spin-rotation states which exist for molecules.

Graphical abstract: Measuring surface phonons using molecular spin-echo

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 mar 2022
Accepted
25 maj 2022
First published
26 maj 2022
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2022,24, 14198-14208

Measuring surface phonons using molecular spin-echo

H. Chadwick and G. Alexandrowicz, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2022, 24, 14198 DOI: 10.1039/D2CP01372J

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