Electron-phonon coupling in surface electronic states on Be(101̄0)

Abstract

We present an ab initio study of the electron-phonon interaction in surface electronic states on Be(101̄0). The calculations based on density-functional theory were carried out using a linear-response approach and a mixed-basis pseudopotential method. It is shown that the strength of the electron-phonon coupling is sensitive to the energy and momentum position of an electronic state and varies from 0.16 to 0.54. The difference in the electron-phonon interaction of two Shockley-type surface states at A can be understood on the basis of their different energy positions in the projected band gap. Previous experiments addressing the electron-phonon coupling strength of these two surface states are discussed in light of our theoretical findings. © 2011 American Physical Society.