Quantum theory of adsorption of isolated adatoms

Various trends in the development of modern quantum-mechanical theory of absorption of isolated adatoms on the surface of crystals are considered. Particular attention is given to the generalization of Anderson's adsorption model and to the studies concerned with its substantiation with the use of the equations of the Lippman-Schwinger type. It is shown that different equilibrium and nonequilibrium processes arising due to adsorption can be described by means of a finite number of microscopic parameters. The applications of the theory to the thermodynamics of adsorption and its dynamic manifestations in field-emission, modulation spectroscopy and some other processes are discussed.