Decoherence effects in propagation of optically generated electron–hole pairs in image potential states

• Published in: Surface science Vol. 445; no. 2-3; pp. 195 - 208
• Main Authors: Gumhalter, B., Petek, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 20.01.2000; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Copper; Electron and ion emission by liquids and solids; impact phenomena; Electron density excitation spectra calculations; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Exact sciences and technology; Green's function methods; Low index single crystal surfaces; Metallic surfaces; Metals. Metallurgy; Photoelectron emission; Photoemission and photoelectron spectra; Physics; Semi-empirical models and model calculations; Surface and interface electron states; Surface states, band structure, electron density of states; Visible/ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy; Metallic surfaces; Visible/ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy; Low index single crystal surfaces; Photoelectron emission; Electron density excitation spectra calculations; Copper; Green's function methods; Semi-empirical models and model calculations; Image potential; Transition elements; Effective Hamiltonian; Theoretical study; N-body problems; Electron hole pair; Electronic transition; Two-photon processes; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Surface states; Transients
• ISSN: 0039-6028; 1879-2758
• DOI: 10.1016/S0039-6028(99)01037-7

We discuss some many-body aspects of optically induced electronic transitions taking place in the first step of two-photon photoemission from Cu(111) surfaces. Transient and decoherence effects associated with the creation and spatio-temporal propagation of an electron–hole pair generated in the Shockley occupied surface state and image potential bands of the surface image potential (IP–SS ‘exciton’) are assessed by combining the effective model Hamiltonian approach with the formalism of nonadiabatic response.