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Role of elastic scattering in electron dynamics at ordered alkali overlayers on Cu(111)

C. Corriol·V. M. Silkin·D. Sanchez-Portal·A. Arnau·E. V. Chulkov·P. M. Echenique·T. von Hofe·J. Kliewer·J. Kroeger·R. Berndt
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Abstract

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy of p(2x2) Cs and Na ordered overlayers on Cu(111) reveals similar line widths of quasi two-dimensional quantum well states despite largely different binding energies. Detailed calculations show that 50% of the line widths are due to electron-phonon scattering while inelastic electron-electron scattering is negligible. A frequently ignored mechanism for ordered structures, i.e., enhanced elastic scattering due to Brillouin zone back folding, contributes the remaining width.

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C. Corriol, V. M. Silkin, D. Sanchez-Portal, A. Arnau, E. V. Chulkov, P. M. Echenique, T. von Hofe, J. Kliewer, J. Kroeger, R. Berndt. 2005-05-03. Role of elastic scattering in electron dynamics at ordered alkali overlayers on Cu(111). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.95.176802

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