Mapping of the electron transmission through the wall of a quantum corral

• Published in: Surface science 2009-07, Vol.603 (13), p.2074-2081
• Main Authors: Gauyacq, J.P., Díaz-Tendero, S., Borisov, A.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Copper; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electron density; Exact sciences and technology; excitation spectra calculations; Low index single crystal surfaces; Physics; Quantum corrals; Surface electronic phenomena (work function, surface potential, surface states, etc.); Tunneling
• ISSN: 0039-6028; 1879-2758
• DOI: 10.1016/j.susc.2009.04.003

We report on a theoretical study of the escape of confined surface states electrons from quantum corrals made of Cu adatoms on a Cu(1 1 1) surface. This study maps electron transmission through the corral wall and provides an extension of our earlier work focused on confinement in Cu corrals [S. Díaz-Tendero, F.E. Olsson, A.G. Borisov, J.P. Gauyacq, Phys. Rev. B 77 (2008) 205403]. The existence of two decay modes for the confined surface state is stressed: (i) non-resonant tunnelling through the corral wall concentrated on the Cu adatoms and (ii) a resonant-induced decay involving the transient formation of a resonant state localized on top of the corral wall. The present mapping of the electron transmission reveals how the interference between the two decay modes works: there exist regions where the electron leaves the corral, balanced by regions where it enters the corral, though the global behaviour of the quasi-stationary states is electron escape from the corral.