Self-Organized Atomic Gold Chains on Ge(001)
(Result of the month 03/2009)

Unique electronic properties of self-organized Au atom chains on Ge(001) in novel c(8x2) long-range order are revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy. Along the nanowires an exceptionally narrow conduction path exists which is virtually decoupled from the substrate. It is laterally confined to the ultimate limit of single atom dimension, and is strictly separated from its neighbors, as not previously reported. The resulting tunneling conductivity shows a dramatic inhomogeneity of 2 orders of magnitude on and off the chains. The atom chains thus represent an outstandingly close approach to a one-dimensional electron liquid.

Left: 3D representation of Au/Ge(001) nanowires imaged at -1 V sample bias and 0.4nA. The wires are aligned parallel to each other by self-assemby and run up to the Ge(001) terrace edges. They can easily achieve a length up to 1 µm. Right: A lavender field in the Provence as artistic analogy. The lavender rows resemble the alignment of the self-organized nanowires.
The physics of electrons in low dimensions is vastly different from the conventional Fermi liquid picture, and condensed matter theory predicts exotic many-body scenarios. Most prominent for one-dimensional (1D) systems is the emergence of the Luttinger liquid which results from a decoupling of the spin and charge degrees of freedom. Requirements for experimental realizations pertain to the fragility of the 1D regime, which can be affected by phonons, and may eventually be destroyed by coupling to the other dimensions. A complication is the occurrence of a charge density wave, which can significantly alter the electronic states. Moreover, wave function overlap with neighboring conduction paths as in crystals, or into supporting layers of synthetic structures is a significant deviation from the ideal 1D case. The quest for well-defined 1D systems is thus ongoing
High resolution STM image of the Au/Ge(001) c(8x2) reconstrucion. The image was taken at -1 V and 0.4nA. The wires are separated by 1.6 nm and show a confined conduction path along the wire.
We report on Au chains assembled on Ge(001) by low-coverage growth in novel c(8x2) long range order. Analyzed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), metallic charge is spread out in 1D direction, unaffected by substrate bonds. The charge on the nanowire resides within single atom dimensions. This correlates with a dramatic lateral decline of the tunneling conductivity. Photoemission identifies a corresponding Au-induced metallic band. This renders the c(8x2) Au chains a 1D model system with unexcelled confinement.


Authors
J. Schäfer1, C. Blumenstein1, S. Meyer1, T. Novgorodov2, M. Klinke2, R. Matzdorf2 and R. Claessen1

1Experimentelle Physik 4, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
2Experimentalphysik 2, Universität Kassel, 34132 Kassel. Germany

Name and email of corresponding author
joerg.schaefer@physik.uni-wuerzburg.de

Institute web-pages
http://www.physik.uni-wuerzburg.de/EP4
http://www.physik.uni-kassel.de/exp2.html

Publication(s)
"New Model System for a One-Dimensional Electron Liquid: Self-Organized Atomic Gold Chains on Ge(001)" J. Schäfer, C. Blumenstein, S. Meyer, M. Wisniewski, and R. Claessen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 236802 (2008).

 
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