Electronic friction in the presence of strong intra-atomic correlations for atoms moving near metal surfaces

We present a theory of energy transfer between metal surfaces and atoms mov ing near the surface. We investigate the effects of the intra-atomic electr on correlations on the nonadiabatic energy transfer, related to electronic friction. Two special cases of atoms moving (a) parallel and (b) perpendicu lar to the surface are discussed. Analytic expression is derived for the en ergy transfer of an interacting system with atoms moving parallel to a smoo th surface with finite velocity. In the Kondo regime, we find substantial e nhancement and strong temperature dependence of the friction coefficient. T he maximum effect occurs when the substrate electronic temperature is of th e order of the Kondo temperature, T-K. The interference between the paralle l and perpendicular directions of motion is small for all experimentally re levant conditions. However, the parallel component of velocity affects the energy transfer that one would find under the conditions of perpendicular m otion. [S0163-1829(99)14627-7].