Impact of Band Structure on Wave Function Dissipation in Field Emission Resonance

TL;DR

This study investigates how the band structure of silver surfaces influences the dissipation and linewidth of field emission resonance, revealing surface-specific quantum effects and fluctuations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of different surface band structures on FER linewidth variations and introduces quantum trapping effects on Ag(100).

Findings

FER linewidth varies with electric field on Ag surfaces.

Ag(111) shows stable dissipation, Ag(100) fluctuates.

Quantum trapping and surface dipoles affect FER on Ag(100).

Abstract

We demonstrated on Ag(111) and Ag(100) surfaces that the reciprocal of the field emission resonance (FER) linewidth, which is proportional to the mean lifetime of resonant electrons in FER, may vary with the electric field. The variation on Ag(111) was nearly smooth, whereas that on Ag(100) was sporadic and fluctuated remarkably. This drastic difference can be explained through their dissimilar projected bulk band structures and the ensemble interpretation of quantum mechanics, according to which all resonant electrons are governed by a single wave function. Ag(100) has an energy gap above its vacuum level, whereas Ag(111) does not. Consequently, the dissipation rate of the wave function, which is relevant to the FER linewidth, on Ag(111) was almost stable, whereas that on Ag(100) fluctuated. The fluctuation revealed that the quantum trapping effect and surface dipole layer on Ag(100) surface can be investigated through FER.