Evidence for Long-Range Spin Order Instead of a Peierls Transition in Si(553)-Au Chains

J. Aulbach, J. Schäfer, S. C. Erwin, S. Meyer, C. Loho, J. Settelein, and R. Claessen
Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 137203 – Published 26 September 2013
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Abstract

Stabilization of the Si(553) surface by Au adsorption results in two different atomically defined chain types, one of Au atoms and one of Si. At low temperature these chains develop two- and threefold periodicity, respectively, previously attributed to Peierls instabilities. Here we report evidence from scanning tunneling microscopy that rules out this interpretation. The ×3 superstructure of the Si chains vanishes for low tunneling bias, i.e., close the Fermi level. In addition, the Au chains remain metallic despite their period doubling. Both observations are inconsistent with a Peierls mechanism. On the contrary, our results are in excellent, detailed agreement with the Si(553)-Au ground state predicted by density-functional theory, where the ×2 periodicity of the Au chain is an inherent structural feature and every third Si atom is spin polarized.

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  • Received 6 August 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.137203

© 2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. Aulbach1, J. Schäfer1, S. C. Erwin2, S. Meyer1, C. Loho1, J. Settelein1, and R. Claessen1

  • 1Physikalisches Institut and Röntgen Center for Complex Materials Systems (RCCM), Universität Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
  • 2Center for Computational Materials Science, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375, USA

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Issue

Vol. 111, Iss. 13 — 27 September 2013

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