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 Y̅ surface states on Cu(110), Ag(110), and Pd(110) is carried out. We show that in the unoccupied surface state on Cu(110) and Ag(110) the e-ph coupling parameter λ 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 Y̅ surface states on Pd(110) 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.