Quantum sticking of atoms on membranes

Dennis P. Clougherty
Phys. Rev. B 90, 245412 – Published 5 December 2014

Abstract

A continuum model for low-energy physisorption on a membrane under tension is proposed and studied with variational mean-field theory. A discontinuous change in the energy-dependent sticking coefficient is predicted under certain conditions. This singularity is a result of the bosonic orthogonality catastrophe of the vibrational states of the membrane. The energy-dependent sticking coefficient is predicted to have exponential scaling in 1/E at energies above the singularity. The application of this model to the quantum sticking of cold hydrogen to suspended graphene is discussed. The model predicts that a beam of atomic hydrogen can be completely reflected by suspended graphene at ultralow energies.

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  • Received 30 August 2013
  • Revised 12 November 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.245412

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Dennis P. Clougherty*

  • Department of Physics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405-0125, USA

  • *dpc@physics.uvm.edu

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Vol. 90, Iss. 24 — 15 December 2014

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