The corrugation of the electronic surface of Pt(110) observed by surface channeling

Abstract

Surface channeling experiments at different energies are used to evaluate inelastic losses. Over a wide range of energies, from 1 keV to 2 MeV, the inelastic losses can be explained consistently with theory based on the density functional ansatz. The data for random surface directions need one parameter, Z(edge), only. The parameter Z(edge) is an average measure for the decay of the electron density at the surface with respect to the dielectric function. Experiments along the surface channels of the (110) surface and variation of the azimuthal angle with respect to these directions reveal many new features. The ion energy loss spectra split up into several peaks which can be identified being due to different trajectories. The interpretation of the results based on the density functional theory energy loss data show that the Z(edge) follows laterally the corrugated electronic surface. This corrugation does not coincide with the surface defined by the turning points of the trajectories, i.e. the `elastic potential surface'. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.