Inter- and intraband inelastic scattering of hot surface state electrons at the Ag( [formula omitted]) surface

• Published in: Surface science Vol. 523; no. 1; pp. L47 - L52
• Main Authors: Vitali, L, Wahl, P, Schneider, M.A, Kern, K, Silkin, V.M, Chulkov, E.V, Echenique, P.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.01.2003; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Electron–solid interactions, scattering, diffraction; Exact sciences and technology; Physics; Scanning tunneling microscopy; Silver; Surface and interface electron states; Surface states, band structure, electron density of states; Silver; Scanning tunneling microscopy; Electron–solid interactions, scattering, diffraction; Electron scattering; Electron diffraction; Digital simulation; Surface electron state; Theoretical study; Electron-solid interactions, scattering, diffraction; Electron-phonon interactions; Experimental study; STM; Electronic structure; Hot electrons; Transition elements; Crystal faces
• ISSN: 0039-6028; 1879-2758
• DOI: 10.1016/S0039-6028(02)02406-8

The phase coherence length and the corresponding lifetime of hot electrons in the surface state band of Ag(1 1 1) have been measured with a low temperature STM for energies from the Fermi level to 3 eV. A divergence of the lifetime from a ( E− E F) −2 behavior has been observed for energies lower than 400 meV. Theoretical analysis in terms of electron–electron and electron–phonon scattering mechanisms shows that the energy dependence of the lifetime is accounted for by the competition between intra- and interband electron–electron inelastic scattering and electron–phonon contributions.