Surface atomic and electronic structure of Mn5Ge3on Ge(111)

Abstract

The atomic and electronic structure of the Mn${}_{5}$Ge${}_{3}$(001) surface grown on Ge(111) $c$($2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}8$) has been studied in detail by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and scanning tunneling spectroscopy. ARPES spectra recorded from the $\overline{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$-$\overline{K}$-$\overline{M}$ and $\overline{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$-$\overline{M}$-$\overline{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ directions of the surface Brillouin zone show six surface-related features. The STM images recorded at biases higher/lower than $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}$0.4 V always show a honeycomb pattern with two bright protrusions in each unit cell. At lower biases, a hexagonal, intermediate transition, and a honeycomb pattern are observed. These can be explained as arising from Mn and Ge atoms in the sublayer arranged in triangular structures and Mn atoms in the top layer arranged in a honeycomb structure, respectively. The photoemission and STM data from the germanide surface are discussed and compared to earlier published theoretical, photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy studies.