G. G. Rusina

Vibrational states on vicinal surfaces of Al, Ag, Cu and Pd

We present the calculation of vibrational modes and lattice relaxation for the (110), (211), (311), (511), (331) and (221) surfaces of Al, Ag, Cu and Pd. The surface phonon frequencies and polarizations are obtained for relaxed and unrelaxed surfaces using embedded atom model potentials. On all surfaces studied step-localized vibrational modes and surface states localized on terrace atoms are found. It is shown that as the terrace width increases so does the number of surface phonons. It is found that interlayer relaxation leads to a shift in the frequencies of the surface states and to a change in the number and localization. In particular, it may cause the appearance or disappearance of step modes. It is shown that the character of relaxation on vicinal surfaces is determined by the number of atoms on a terrace. A comparison of the results with the available experimental data for the Al(221), Cu(211), and Cu(511) surfaces indicates that there is a good agreement with the experimental data.

Vibrations on the (110) surface of FCC metals

Abstract We present the calculations of vibrational states on the Al(110), Cu(110), Ag(110) and Pd(110) surfaces. The surface phonon frequencies and polarizations are calculated using embedded atoms potentials. For all surfaces of interest a surface state at the \ gG point, characterized by shear vertical displacements of atoms of the two upper layers is obtained. It is in contradiction to earlier calculations and experimental study for the Al(110) surface and in good agreement with experimental measurements for the Cu(110), Ag(110) and Pd(110) surfaces. It is shown that vibrational spectra of these surfaces are like to each other. On the whole, obtained results are in good agreement with available experimental data and first principles calculation results.

Vibrations on Cu surfaces covered with Ni monolayer

Vibrational modes on the Cu(100) and Cu(111) surfaces covered with a Ni monolayer have been calculated using the embedded-atom method. A detailed discussion of the dispersion relations and polarizations of adsorbate modes and surface phonons is presented. The dispersion of the Rayleigh phonon is in good agreement with the experimental EELS data. The changes in interatomic force constants are discussed.

Structure and analysis of atomic vibrations in clusters of Cu n (n ≤ 20)

The binding energy, equilibrium geometry, and vibration frequencies of free clusters Cun (2 ≤ n ≤ 20) are calculated using the potentials of interatomic interactions found using the tight-binding approximation. The nonmonotonic dependence of the clusters’ minimum vibration frequency on their sizes and the extreme values for the number of atoms in a cluster n = 4, 6, 13, and 19 is demonstrated. It is noted that this result agrees with the theoretical and experimental data on stable structures of small and medium metallic clusters.

Structure and vibrational properties of cobalt clusters (n ≤ 20)

The binding energies and vibration frequencies of free small cobalt clusters containing up to twenty atoms inclusive have been calculated using the interatomic interaction potential obtained in the tight-binding approximation. The minimum frequency of the cluster vibrations has been shown to play the determining role in the evaluation of its dynamic stability. The analysis of the energy parameters and vibrations of clusters has demonstrated that the cobalt clusters in which the number of atoms is n = 4, 6, 13, and 19 are stable.

Electron-phonon interaction in the quantum well state of the 1 ML Na/Cu(111) system

The electron-phonon interaction in the quantum well state formed by a Na monolayer coating on Cu(111) is investigated theoretically. The calculations show that the electron-phonon coupling constant γ in this state decreases insignificantly (≈1%) compared to the value of γ for a clean copper surface. The corresponding electron-phonon contribution to the lifetime τ of the quantum well state increases by a factor of 1.5 compared to τ for the clean Cu(111) surface.

Vibrational states on Pd surfaces

We present the calculation of vibrational modes and lattice relaxation for the Pd(100), (110) and (111) surfaces. The surface phonon frequencies and polarizations are obtained using embedded-atom potentials. Comparison of the calculated frequency values with available experimental data gives agreement within 0.2 THz.

Dimers of heavy p-elements of groups IV–VI: Electronic, vibrational, and magnetic properties

Equilibrium lengths and binding energies, vibrational frequencies, width of the HOMO–LUMO gap, and the magnetic anisotropy energies for one- and two-component dimers of heavy p elements of Groups IV (Sn, Pb), V (Sb, Bi), and VI (Se, Te) with a pronounced relativistic effect have been calculated with the use of the formalism of the density functional theory. It has been shown that it is necessary to take into account the spin–orbit coupling, which significantly affects the energy parameters of clusters. The analysis of the data obtained has revealed that the Pb–Te, Pb–Se, Sn–Te, and Sn–Se dimers have the widest gap at the Fermi level and the lowest reactivity. The magnetic anisotropy energy has been calculated for all single- and doublecomponent dimers and the direction of the easy magnetization axis has been determined.

Vibrational properties of small cobalt clusters on the Cu(111) surface

Vibrational properties of small cobalt clusters (dimer and trimer) adsorbed on the Cu(111) surface are studied using interatomic interaction potentials obtained in a tight-binding approximation. The complete (lateral and vertical) relaxation of the surface, the local phonon density of states, and the polarization of vibration modes of clusters and atoms of the substrate are discussed. It is shown that the adsorption of small cobalt clusters leads to a local modification of the vibrational properties of the substrate surface and to excitation of new vibration modes localized on both the cluster adatoms and substrate surface atoms. An increase in the cluster size causes a decrease in the intensity of peaks of the local density of states and their broadening and also a shift in the frequencies of the peaks.

Atomic structure and phonons of a Pb ultrathin film on the Al(100) surface

The atomic and phonon structures of a Pb ultrathin film on the Al(100) surface have been theoretically studied. Surface relaxation, local density of vibrational states, and polarization of the phonon modes of adatoms and atoms of a substrate have been discussed. It has been shown that the adsorption of Pb results in the oscillating relaxation of the surface of the substrate and warping of the structure in subsurface layers. Comparative analysis of the vibrational characteristics of the pure surface of the substrate and the surface with adatoms has shown that the adsorptive interaction in the system and its dynamic stability are governed by new vibrational modes that are not inherent in pure Al and Pb surfaces.