Arsenic deposition on InP(110) was studied by means of core-level and valen
ce-hand photoemission. By systematic spectral decompositions, it was found
that the adsorption at room temperature is nonreactive. At elevated tempera
tures the As 3d spectra show drastic transformations, indicative of a P-As
exchange reaction. The data can at this point be interpreted in terms of a
recently proposed structure involving an As-covered InAs layer. Upon As red
eposition the core-level spectra are clearly different from those observed
prior to annealing, which means that the exchange reaction is irreversible.
Angle-resolved valence-band spectra from the reacted surface are similar t
o those from clean InP(110), but important differences are found, facilitat
ing the identification of surface states.