Influence of surface corrugations on hydrogenic image-potential states

Journal Article · Sun Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.41.8175· OSTI ID:6900024

Van Siclen, C D ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415 (USA)

An electron can be bound to a surface by the Coulomb attraction to its positive image charge. The resulting Rydberg-type series of image-potential surface states has been observed in the band gaps of free-electron-like {ital s},{ital p} bands for several metal surfaces. The binding energy for the first member of the series ({ital n}=1) is very nearly hydrogenic for the dense (111) crystallographic surfaces, but appears to depart significantly from the hydrogenic value for the more strongly corrugated (100) surfaces. Variational calculations are performed to determine the energy-level shifts due to surface corrugations, assuming a simple model potential and coincident image plane, hard-wall boundary, and corrugated surface. The binding energy is found to be decreased only slightly by the surface structure, contrary to recent theoretical results obtained by perturbation theory, but consistent with the standard phase-shift analysis of the experimental data.

• OSTI ID: 6900024
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Vol. 41:12; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
METALS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
BINDING ENERGY
COPPER
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
NICKEL
PHOTOEMISSION
SILVER
SURFACE IONIZATION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
ENERGY
IONIZATION
SECONDARY EMISSION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
656002* - Condensed Matter Physics- General Techniques in Condensed Matter- (1987-)