THE CASE FOR ORDER-N METHODS IN LEED THEORY

Abstract

Low energy electron diffraction experiments have superb sensitivity to surface structure, but rely on sophisticated theory for their interpretation. Advances in computer power, and developments in the theory itself, enable us to handle surface structures of moderate complexity. For future advances we must look to a completely new approach and the case is made for order-N methods which follow the time evolution of a point source of electrons to generate all beams for all angles of incidence and all energies in one shot.