Spatial dependence and binding energy shift of surface states for epitaxial overlayers of Au on Ag(111) and Ag on Au(111)

Abstract

We have investigated experimentally and theoretically the behavior of a surface state for Au epitaxial overlayers on Ag(111). The surface state evolves continuously from Ag(111)-like to Au(111)-like for increasing Au overlayer thickness. A similar behavior is observed for the complementary system. Ag on Au(111). The wave functions for the overlayer systems are constructed, and the decay lengths for the surface states in clean Ag(111) and Au(111) are deduced.