Phonon-mediated sticking of electrons at dielectric surfaces

Journal Article · Wed Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.82.125408· OSTI ID:21421426

Heinisch, R L; Bronold, F X; Fehske, H ^[1]

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1. Institut fuer Physik, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universitaet Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald (Germany)

We study phonon-mediated temporary trapping of an electron in polarization-induced external surface states (image states) of a dielectric surface. Our approach is based on a quantum-kinetic equation for the occupancy of the image states. It allows us to distinguish between prompt and kinetic sticking. Because the depth of the image potential is much larger than the Debye energy multiphonon processes are important. Taking two-phonon processes into account in cases where one-phonon processes yield a vanishing transition probability, as it is applicable, for instance, to graphite, we analyze the adsorption scenario as a function of potential depth and surface temperature and calculate prompt and kinetic sticking coefficients. We find rather small sticking coefficients, at most on the order of 10{sup -3}, and a significant suppression of the kinetic sticking coefficient due to a relaxation bottleneck inhibiting thermalization of the electron with the surface at short time scales.

• OSTI ID: 21421426
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 82, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.82.125408; (c) 2010 The American Physical Society; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ADSORPTION
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRONS
GRAPHITE
KINETIC EQUATIONS
PHONONS
POLARIZATION
RELAXATION
SURFACES
THERMALIZATION
TRAPPING
CARBON
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
EQUATIONS
FERMIONS
LEPTONS
MATERIALS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
QUASI PARTICLES
SLOWING-DOWN
SORPTION