Theory of inelastic lifetimes of surface-state electrons and holes at metal surfaces

TL;DR

This paper reviews the many-body theoretical understanding of inelastic lifetimes of surface-state electrons and holes at metal surfaces, highlighting recent calculations using advanced $GW\Gamma$ methods.

Contribution

It provides updated calculations of self-energy and lifetimes for surface states on gold surfaces using the $GW\Gamma$ approximation, advancing the theoretical modeling of surface electron dynamics.

Findings

Confirmation of image-potential bound states at metal surfaces

New $GW\Gamma$ calculations for Au surface states

Enhanced understanding of inelastic lifetimes of surface electrons

Abstract

After the early suggestion by John Pendry to probe unoccupied bands at surfaces through the time reversal of the photoemission process, the inverse-photoemission technique yielded the first conclusive experimental evidence for the existence of image-potential bound states at metal surfaces and has led over the last two decades to an active area of research in condensed-matter and surface physics. Here we describe the current status of the many-body theory of inelastic lifetimes of these image-potential states and also the Shockley surface states that exist near the Fermi level in the projected bulk band gap of simple and noble metals. New calculations of the self-energy and lifetime of surface states on Au surfaces are presented as well, by using the $GW\Gamma$ approximation of many-body theory.