The dynamics of N2 scattering from a W(100) surface is investigated by quasi-classical trajectory simulations in order to rationalize the measured scattered angle distributions (C. T. Rettner, E. K. Schweizer, and H. Stein, J. Chem. Phys. 93 (1990) 1442). The width of the angular distributions is found to evolve non-monotonously with the translation energy of the impinging N2 molecules. After a description of the theoretical model, an original interpretation is proposed to understand this rather puzzling behaviour. The shape and the position of the angular distributions as well as the final translation energy distribution of the scattered N2 molecules are discussed.
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