Scattering of slow metastable argon atoms by dielectric nanospheres.

The elastic scattering at low energy of metastable argon atoms with internal angular momentum J = 0 and 2 by dielectric nanospheres is investigated. The differential cross sections are calculated for both isotropic and anisotropic interactions. A polarization effect is clearly evidenced. The possible use of a metastable atom beam as a probe of an ensemble of nanospheres deposited on a passive substrate is examined.