Multiple Scattering Effect on the Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) Intensities from Liquid Metal Surfaces:Application to Liquid In

Abstract

We propose a theory of multiple scattering in the reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) intensities from liquid metal surfaces and apply it to liquid In, for which preliminary RHEED experiments have recently been performed. In this theory, we first calculate the RHEED specular reflectivity based on an effective refractive index model, in which external electrons are supposed to be reflected by a smoothed surface potential. Multiple scattering effect is taken into account in terms of the damping factor of the refracted and specularly reflected waves calculated in this model. Specular reflectivity is then calculated using this damping factor together with an appropriately defined local reflectivity. Application of this theory to liquid In shows that multiple scattering effect is not very appreciable in the range of small glancing angles, where preliminary RHEED data are available.