Dynamics of cluster deposition on Ar surface

Abstract

Abstract. Using a combined quantum mechanical/classical method, we study the dynamics of deposition of small Na clusters on Ar(001) surface. We work out basic mechanisms by systematic variation of substrate activity, impact energy, cluster orientations, cluster sizes, and charges. The soft Ar material is found to serve as an extremely efficient shock absorber which provides cluster capture in a broad range of impact energies. Reflection is only observed in combination with destruction of the substrate. The kinetic energy of the impinging cluster is rapidly transfered at first impact. The distribution of the collision energy over the substrate proceeds very fast with velocity of sound. The full thermalization of ionic and atomic energies goes at a much slower pace with times of several ps. Charged clusters are found to have a much stronger interface interaction and thus get in significantly closer contact with the surface.

Deposition dynamics of Na monomers and dimers on an Ar(001) substrate

“…Enhancing the impact energy further to force reflection leads into a regime where a whole surface area is destroyed. This is similar to our findings for deposition of Na clusters [26].…”

Optical absorption of small silver clusters: Agn, (n=4–22)

“…The collision process produces a sudden local heating of cluster and matrix, followed by a rapid dissipation of the heat in the matrix, 33,34 which can result in the coexistence of different low energy isomers in the rare-gas matrix. 35 Finally, it has to be noted that the relative stability of different embedded isomers has to account for their insertion energy into the matrix ͑that can be important in Ref.…”

Modeling of the deposition of Na Clusters on MgO(001)

“…Thus Ar substrates are very efficient soft stopper materials. In the former analysis, 33,47 we had run a similar series of impact energies as above and we also found soft deposition for energies up to at least E kin 0 / N ion = 0.272 eV. An attempt to reach a reflection regime by further increasing the impact energy then led to a significant destruction of the substrate.…”

“…Recently, we have investigated deposition dynamics of Na clusters on Ar͑001͒ surface. 33,35,36 The aim of this paper is to continue these theoretical studies now considering deposition dynamics of Na clusters on a much "harder" surface than Ar, namely, MgO͑001͒ insulator surfaces. The structural properties and optical response of Na n on MgO have already been studied in great detail in using the present computational approach.…”