Abstract
The surface structural phases of are investigated using quantitative low energy electron diffraction. The broken symmetry at the surface enhances the structural instability against the rotational distortion while diminishing the instability against the tilt distortion occurring within the bulk crystal. As a result, suppressed structural and electronic surface phase transition temperatures are observed, including the appearance of an inherent Mott metal-to-insulator transition for and possible modifications of the surface quantum critical point near .
- Received 14 September 2007
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.066102
©2008 American Physical Society