Phonon-induced scattering of excited electrons and holes on (110) noble metal surfaces

Abstract

A detailed theoretical study of electron-phonon interaction in occupied and unoccupied Ȳ surface states on Cu(110), Ag(110), and Pd(110) is carried out. We show that in the unoccupied surface state on Cu(110) and Ag(110) the e-ph coupling parameter λ is about three times smaller than that in the occupied surface state due to distinct phonon modes that contribute to e-ph scattering. The difference in mechanisms of phonon-mediated scattering for excited holes and electrons results from distinct spatial localization of occupied and unoccupied states. In spite of both Ȳ surface states on Pd(110) are unoccupied they have spatial distribution similar to that on other considered noble metal surfaces that leads to different phonon-mediated scattering in these states too. © 2010 The American Physical Society.