Fig. 6: Vibrational excitation probability.

Experimental vibrational excitation probability of NO(vi = 0) scattering from Au(111) against Ts for Ei = a 0.28 eV and b 0.63 eV30, in comparison with IESH results on the PW91 PES. Arrhenius functions fitted to the experimental points, as well as the thermal limit, are also depicted for comparison. Error bars on the experimental data were determined by estimating the statistical uncertainties in all input variables and then calculating their propagation into the absolute excitation probability30. Error bars of IESH results indicate standard errors of the excitation probability. Source data are provided in a Source data file.