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 Ysurface states on Cu110 ,A g110, and Pd110 is carried out. We show that in the unoccupied surface state on Cu110 and Ag110 the e-ph coupling parameter 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 Ysurface states on Pd110 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.