Collisional dynamics of Ag-19 on Pd(100): A molecular dynamics study

By means of molecular dynamics simulations based on realistic n-body potentials we investigate structural and dynamical features inherent to the energetic collision of a silver cluster (Ag-19) on the Pd(100) substrate. Both the system and the impact energy (E-i = 95 eV) adopted have been chosen to parallel an experimental study of size selected Ag cluster deposition on Pd(100). Our results indicate that the experimental cross section obtained via thermal energy atom scattering at the same collision energy is well reproduced by the simulations. The modeling allows to rationalize the collision outcome in terms of defect production and cluster atoms implantation. The adsorbed structures have an heterogenous nature and are mostly two-dimensional.