Compact and mobile molecular beam surface scattering apparatus for use at major light sources

分子束表面散射方法带来了许多见解，推动了我们对表面原子和分子相互作用的理解，我们在哥廷根的工作组一直处于该领域的最前沿。这些实验依赖于高性能的光源来准备和检测碰撞的原子或分子;到目前为止，台式激光系统已专门用于这些目的。利用自由电子激光器进行分子束表面散射实验是一个富有成效的新的研究方向。进入新的光谱区域（特别是在紫外区域- hv= 6-25 eV）允许许多新的实验，包括：原子的光解产生和目前不可检测的分子的基于电离的检测。迈出这一步需要开发第一台分子束表面散射仪器，该仪器专为移动性和紧凑性而设计，可以轻松地运输到世界各地的主要光源。我们小组在光解原子源、表面散射离子成像检测和分子束表面散射方法的所有其他方面的经验使我们能够实现这一目标。这将使我们能够将我们对表面原子和分子散射的研究扩展到新的系统，从而更深入，更透彻地了解表面原子和分子的相互作用。

Molecular beam surface scattering methods have led to many insights advancing our understanding of interactions of atoms and molecules at surfaces and our working group in Göttingen has been at the forefront of this field. Such experiments rely on high performance light sources to prepare and detect the colliding projectile atoms or molecules; up to now, table-top laser systems have been exclusively used for these purposes. Using free electron lasers (FEL) for molecular beam surface scattering experiments offers a fruitful new direction for research. Access to new spectral regions (in particular in the ultraviolet region - hv= 6-25 eV) allows many new experiments including: photolytic production of atoms and ionization based detection of molecules presently not detectable. Taking this step requires the development of the first molecular beam surface scattering instrument designed for mobility and compactness that can be easily transported to major light sources around the world. Our group’s experience with photolytic atom sources, ion imaging detection in surface scattering and all other aspects of molecular beam surface scattering methods allow us to accomplish this. This will allow us to extend our studies of atomic and molecular scattering at surfaces to new systems, leading to a deeper and more thorough understanding of the interactions of atoms and molecules at surfaces.