Six-Dimensional State-to-State Quantum Dynamics of H₂/D₂ Scattering from Cu(100): Validity of Site-Averaging Model

Six-dimensional quantum dynamics calculations for the state-to-state scattering of H _2 /D _2 on the rigid Cu(100) surface have been carried out using a time-dependent wave packet approach, based on an accurate neural network potential energy surface fit for thousands of density functional theory data computed with the optPBE-vdW density functional. The present results are compared with previous theoretical and experimental ones regarding to the rovibrationally (in)elastic scattering of H _2 and D _2 from Cu(100). In particular, we test the validity of the site-averaging approximation in this system by which the six-dimensional (in)elastic scattering probabilities are compared with the weighted average of four-dimensional results over fifteen fixed sites. Specifically, the site-averaging model reproduces vibrationally elastic scattering probabilities quite well, though less well for vibrationally inelastic results at high energies. These results support the use of the site-averaging model to reduce computational costs in future investigations on the state-to-state scattering dynamics of heavy diatomic or polyatomic molecules from metal surfaces, where full-dimensional calculations are too expensive.