Radial Band Structure of Electrons in Liquid Metals

TL;DR

This study reveals the radial band structure of electrons in liquid metals through angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, demonstrating how atomic correlations influence electronic states during melting.

Contribution

It introduces a radial scattering model that quantitatively reproduces the observed electron band evolution in liquid metals, highlighting the importance of radial correlations.

Findings

Liquid monolayer exhibits free-electron-like band

Radial scattering causes secondary hole band formation

Model accurately reproduces spectral intensity profiles

Abstract

The electronic band structure of a liquid metal was investigated by measuring precisely the evolution of angle-resolved photoelectron spectra during the melting of a Pb monolayer on a Si(111) surface. We found that the liquid monolayer exhibits a free-electron-like band and it undergoes a coherent radial scattering, imposed by the radial correlation of constituent atoms, to form a characteristic secondary hole band. This unique double radial bands and their gradual evolution during melting can be quantitatively reproduced, including detailed spectral intensity profiles, with our radial scattering model based on a theoretical prediction of 1962. Our result establishes the radial band structure as a key concept for describing the nature of electrons in strongly disordered states of matter.