Studying Complex Surface Dynamical Systems Using Helium-3 Spin-Echo Spectroscopy

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Introduction

   • Barbara A. J. Lechner

   Pages 1-4

3. The Helium-3 Spin-Echo Experiment

   • Barbara A. J. Lechner

   Pages 5-32

4. A New Helium Atom Scattering Apparatus

   • Barbara A. J. Lechner

   Pages 33-49

5. An Improved High Intensity Supersonic Helium Beam Source

   • Barbara A. J. Lechner

   Pages 51-69

6. The Dynamics of Cyclopentadienyl on Cu(111)

   • Barbara A. J. Lechner

   Pages 71-104

7. Quantum Influences in the Diffusive Motion of Pyrrole on Cu(111)

   • Barbara A. J. Lechner

   Pages 105-141

8. The Atomic-Scale Motion of Thiophene on Cu(111)

   • Barbara A. J. Lechner

   Pages 143-168

9. Conclusions

   • Barbara A. J. Lechner

   Pages 169-172

Chemical reactions and growth processes on surfaces depend on the diffusion and re-orientation of the adsorbate molecules. A fundamental understanding of the forces guiding surface motion is thus of utmost importance for the advancement of many fields of science and technology. To date, our understanding of the principles underlying surface dynamics remains extremely limited, due to the difficulties involved in measuring these processes experimentally. The helium-3 spin-echo (HeSE) technique is uniquely capable of probing such surface dynamical phenomena. The present thesis extends the field of application of HeSE from atomic and small molecular systems to more complex systems. Improvements to the supersonic helium beam source, a key component of the spectrometer, as well as a detailed investigation of a range of five-membered aromatic adsorbate species are presented. The thesis provides a comprehensive description of many aspects of the HeSE method - instrumentation, measurement and data analysis - and as such offers a valuable introduction for newcomers to the field.

• Adsorbate Diffusion
• Cyclopentadienyl Molecule on Surface
• Five-Membered Aromatic Molecules
• Helium Atom Scattering
• Helium-3 Spin-Echo
• High-Intensity Supersonic Beam Source
• Molecular Dynamics Simulations
• Pyrrole Molecule on Surface
• Surface Dynamics
• Thiophe Molecule on Surface

• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Materials Sciences Divisions, Berkeley CA 94720, USA

  Barbara A. J. Lechner

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