Dissipative van der Waals and Mirror Interaction of keV Atoms with the Metal Surface at Grazing Reflections
Abstract
The energy losses of keV atomic beams at grazing reflections from an amorphous metal surface are studied. Expressions for various components of these losses, including dissipative van der Waals, specular electrodynamic, and inelastic electronic interactions have been obtained. Calculations of the grazing reflection of sodium and potassium atoms from the aluminum surface show that the dissipative van der Waals component of energy losses can dominate or be quite noticeable at transverse energies of 0.5–2 eV.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Crystallography and Radiation Phenomena
Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect
Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters
- Publisher
- Pleiades Publishing Ltd
- Volume
- 123
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 238–243
- Publication date
- 1 February 2026
- Language
- EN