The sticking probability for hydrogen atoms on the surface of liquid 4He

Abstract

A calculation is presented of the sticking probability for hydrogen atoms colliding with a liquid 4He surface. The calculation is based on a model potential for the H–liquid 4He interaction which is used to derive both bound and free atom wave functions and the linear H atom–ripplon coupling. Results are presented in terms of the energy and angle dependent sticking probability s(E, θ) and the thermally averaged probability s(T), and comparison is made to the experimental result s(T) = 0.035 ± 0.005 for 0.18 < T < 0.27 K.