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A Salin

Publications and source records attributed to A Salin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Relaxation of hot atoms following H2 dissociation on a Pd111 surface.

We study the relaxation of hot H atoms produced by dissociation of H2 molecules on the Pd111 surface. Ab initio density-functional theory calculations and the "corrugation reducing procedure" are used to determine the interaction potential for a H atom in front of a rigid surface as well as its modification under surface-atom vibrations. A slab of 80 Pd atoms is used to model the surface together with "generalized Langevin oscillators" to account for energy dissipation to the bulk. We show that the energy relaxation is fast, about 75% of the available energy being lost by the hot atoms after 0.5 ps. As a consequence, the hot atoms do not travel more than a few angstroms along the surface before being trapped into the potential well located over the hollow site.

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A classical dynamics method for H2 diffraction from metal surfaces.

We present a discretization method that allows one to interpret measurements on diffraction of diatomic molecules from solid surfaces using six-dimensional (6D) classical trajectory calculations. It has been applied to the D2NiAl(110) and H2Pd(111) systems (which are models for activated and nonactivated dissociative chemisorption, respectively) using realistic potential energy surfaces obtained from first principles. Comparisons with experimental results and 6D quantum dynamical calculations show that, in general, the method is able to predict the relative intensity of the most important diffraction peaks. We therefore conclude that classical mechanics can be an efficient guide for experimentalists in the search for the most significant diffraction channels.

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In-plane and out-of-plane diffraction of H(2) from metal surfaces.

We have measured in-plane and out-of-plane diffraction of H2 and D2 molecular beams scattered by reactive Pd(111) and nonreactive NiAl(110) surfaces at 140-150 meV. A comparison with six-dimensional quantum dynamics and classical trajectory calculations shows for the first time that accurate diffraction patterns can be obtained from state-of-the-art potential energy surfaces based on density functional theory. Our measurements show that, at general incidence conditions, out-of-plane diffraction is much more important than was assumed in previous experiments.

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Trapping, molecular adsorption, and precursors for nonactivated chemisorption.

Many fundamental questions are still unanswered regarding the very existence of precursor states and the microscopic mechanism of its population in the case of dissociative adsorption of light molecules on metal surfaces. We report results of classical trajectory calculations for H(2)/Pd(110) based on a six-dimensional potential energy surface obtained from ab initio calculations and a generalized Langevin oscillator model to account for energy exchange with the surface and dissipation. A quantitative characterization of the dynamic process is obtained which elucidates the respective roles played by direct dissociation, dynamic trapping, and precursor mediated adsorption. We predict the existence of H2 molecular chemisorption and provide the precise adsorption conditions for its experimental observation.

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Theoretical analysis of the relation between H2 dissociation and reflection on Pd surfaces.

We study the scattering of H2 (v=0, J=0) molecules by the Pd(110) surface using classical trajectory methods. We show that the dissociative adsorption probability barely depends on incidence angle (total energy scaling) up to an impact energy of 200 meV. This is the consequence of a "loss of memory" of the initial incidence angle, mostly due to dynamic trapping, which also reflects itself in a cosinelike angular distribution of reflected molecules. Consequently, a cosinelike distribution can be the result of a subpicosecond process that involves neither energy dissipation to the surface nor transient thermal accommodation.

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Surface temperature dependence of rotational excitation of H(2) scattered from Pd(111).

Classical dynamics simulations are performed to study rotational excitation of H(2) scattered from Pd(111), taking into account energy exchange with surface phonons through a 3D surface oscillator model. We show that dynamic trapping, identified recently in the study of dissociation dynamics, plays a prominent role. The corresponding long interaction time due to several recollisions allows an efficient energy exchange between H(2) molecules and surface phonons. This microscopic mechanism explains the puzzling experimental finding on the role of surface temperature in H(2)(nu = 0,J = 1-->3) excitation.

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