Interlayer mass transport and quantum confinement of electronic states

Authors
Giesen, M Icking-Konert, GS Ibach, H
Citation
M. Giesen et al., Interlayer mass transport and quantum confinement of electronic states, PHYS REV L, 82(15), 1999, pp. 3101-3104
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
82
Issue
15
Year of publication
1999
Pages
3101 - 3104
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(19990412)82:15<3101:IMTAQC>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
A numerical analysis of the ripening of multilayer islands on Cu(111) shows that the Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier for interlayer mass transport is indepe ndent of the terrace width w as long as w > w(c) = 14 +/- 2 Angstrom, but v anishes for w < w(c). The critical width we corresponds exactly to the terr ace width below which the surface state is pushed above the Fermi level due to quantum confinement. The Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier is therefore correla ted with the occupation of surface states.