Special issue on low-dimensional order mediated by interfaces

Surface states of platinum-induced atomic nanowires on a germanium (0 0 1) surface, which shows a structural phase transition at 80 K, were studied by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES). We observed four one-dimensional metallic surface states, among which, two bands were reported in our previous study (Yaji et al 2013 Phys. Rev. B 87 241413). One of the newly-found two bands is a quasi-one-dimensional state and is split into two due to the Rashba effect. Photoelectron intensity from one of the spin-polarized branches is reduced at a boundary of the surface Brillouin zone below the phase transition temperature. The reduction of the photoelectron intensity in the low temperature phase is interpreted as the interference of photoelectrons, not as the Peierls instability. We also discuss the low energy properties of the metallic surface states and their spin splitting using high-resolution ARPES with a vacuum ultraviolet laser.

An atomic scale study has been performed to understand the influence of the (As,Sb) shutter sequences during interface formation on the optical properties of InGaAs/AlAsSb quantum wells. Our cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy results show that the onset of the Sb profile is steep in the Sb-containing layers whereas an appreciable segregation of Sb in the subsequently grown Sb free layers is observed. The steep rise of the Sb profile is due to extra Sb that is supplied to the surface prior to the growth of the Sb-containing layers. No relation is found between the (As,Sb) termination conditions of the Sb-containing layers and the resulting Sb profiles in the capping layers. Correspondingly we see that the optical properties of these quantum wells are also nearly independent on the (As,Sb) shutter sequences at the interface. Digital alloy growth in comparison to conventional molecular beam epitaxy growth was also explored. X-ray results suggest that the structural properties of the quantum well structures grown by conventional molecular beam epitaxy techniques are slightly better than those formed by digital alloy growth. However photoluminescence studies indicate that the digital alloy samples give rise to a more intense and broader photoluminescence emission. Cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy measurements reveal that lateral composition modulations present in the digital alloys are responsible for the enhancement of the photoluminescence intensity and inhomogeneous broadening.

Structural and electron transport properties of multiple Pb atomic chains fabricated on the Si(5 5 3)-Au surface are investigated using scanning tunneling spectroscopy, reflection high electron energy diffraction, angular resolved photoemission electron spectroscopy and in situ electrical resistance. The study shows that Pb atomic chains growth modulates the electron band structure of pristine Si(5 5 3)-Au surface and hence changes its sheet resistivity. Strong correlation between chains morphology, electron band structure and electron transport properties is found. To explain experimental findings a theoretical tight-binding model of multiple atomic chains interacting on effective substrate is proposed.

Effects of strain, charge doping and external electric field on kinetic and magnetic properties of hydrogen atoms on a free-standing silicene layer are investigated by first-principles density functional theory. It was found that the charge doping and strain are the most effective ways of changing the hydrogen-silicene binding energy, but they can only raise its value. The perpendicular external electric field can also lower it albeit in a narrower range. The strain has also the strongest impact on diffusion processes, and the diffusion barrier can be modified up to 50% of its unstrained value. The adsorption of hydrogen atoms results in a locally antiferromagnetic ground state with the effective exchange constant of approximately 1 eV. The system can easily be driven into a nonmagnetic phase by the charge doping and strain. The obtained results are very promising in view of the silicene functionalization and potential applications of silicene in fields of modern nanoelectronics and spintronics.

Despite intense research the microscopic atomic structure of Au-induced nanowires on Ge(0 0 1) substrates is still under discussion. We analyse a variety of structural models for Au-induced nanowires on the Ge(0 0 1) surface using first-principles calculations. Here we focus on subridge modifications at higher Au coverages and study geometries based on the giant missing row model with Ge–Ge dimers in the grooves between the nanowires due to replacing them by Ge–Au heterodimers or Au–Au homodimers. Stable geometries are predicted for higher Au coverages, which however have only a minor influence on the electronic structure. The findings are interpreted that the Au coverage and the actual geometry may vary in the various experiments according to the preparation conditions.

The temperature dependence of the density of states of germanene, synthesized on Ge/Pt crystals, has been investigated with scanning tunneling spectroscopy. After correction for thermal broadening, a virtually perfect V-shaped density of states, which is a hallmark of a two-dimensional Dirac system, has been found. In an attempt to directly measure the energy dispersion relation via quasiparticle interference we have recorded spatial maps of the differential conductivity near the edges and defects of germanene. Unfortunately, we did not find any sign of Friedel oscillations. The absence of these Friedel oscillations hints to the occurrence of Klein tunneling.

Surface states of platinum-induced atomic nanowires on a germanium (0 0 1) surface, which shows a structural phase transition at 80 K, were studied by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES). We observed four one-dimensional metallic surface states, among which, two bands were reported in our previous study (Yaji et al 2013 Phys. Rev. B 87 241413). One of the newly-found two bands is a quasi-one-dimensional state and is split into two due to the Rashba effect. Photoelectron intensity from one of the spin-polarized branches is reduced at a boundary of the surface Brillouin zone below the phase transition temperature. The reduction of the photoelectron intensity in the low temperature phase is interpreted as the interference of photoelectrons, not as the Peierls instability. We also discuss the low energy properties of the metallic surface states and their spin splitting using high-resolution ARPES with a vacuum ultraviolet laser.

We study directional dependent band gap evolutions and metal–insulator transitions (MITs) in model quantum wire systems within the spin–orbit density wave (SODW) model. The evolution of MIT is studied as a function of varying anisotropy between the intra-wire hopping (${{t}_{\parallel}}$) and inter-wire hopping (${{t}_{\bot}}$) with Rashba spin–orbit coupling. We find that as long as the anisotropy ratio ($\beta ={{t}_{\bot}}/{{t}_{\parallel}}$) remains below 0.5, and the Fermi surface nesting is tuned to ${{\mathbf{Q}}_{1}}=\left(\pi,0\right)$, an exotic SODW induced MIT easily develops, with its critical interaction strength increasing with increasing anisotropy. As $\beta \to 1$ (2D system), the nesting vector switches to ${{\mathbf{Q}}_{2}}=\left(\pi,\pi \right)$, making this state again suitable for an isotropic MIT. Finally, we discuss various physical consequences and possible applications of the directional dependent MIT.

The properties of one-dimensional (1D) plasmons are rather unexplored. We investigated the plasmonic collective excitations, measured as one-dimensional plasmon dispersions with electron energy loss spectroscopy, highly resolved both in energy and lateral momentum, for both phases of Au induced chains on stepped Si(553) substrates. We observe 1D dispersions that are strongly influenced by the lateral chain width and by the interchain coupling. Indications for the existence of two different plasmons originating from two surface bands of the systems are given for the low coverage phase.

The adsorption of metal-free phthalocyanine molecules on an anisotropic Au(1 1 0)(1  ×  2) surface has been studied with ultraviolet (UV) photoemission, low-energy electron diffraction and low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. In all cases, the molecules form rows in the [1 $\bar{1}$ 0] direction, i.e. along the troughs of the reconstructed substrates. However, depending on the exposure and adsorption temperature, the substrate maintains (1  ×  2)- or transforms into a (1  ×  3)-reconstruction, and the molecular separation along the rows shrink from six to five times the Au–Au interatomic distance. The results are in agreement with previous density functional theory (DFT) calculations.