Surface states in a one-dimensional crystal

The present short paper considers the role of the shape of the surface potential, particularly its long range character, on the existence and energies of the electronic surface states. For that purpose, a one-dimensional crystal is being considered represented by a Kronig-Penney potential

$\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{I}}\text{(z)=?U}{}_0\text{+}\text{∑}\text{n}\text{h}{}^2\text{m}\text{P}\text{a}\text{(s+na)}$

, (P < 0) for z < ? terminated by an image potential of the form V_II (z) = ?Ce²/z(z >?). The physical values of U₀ and a given only two gaps between energies ?U₀ and O. It is found that for a step barrier surface potential at z = ? there is only one surface state in each gap. On the contrary, for an image type potential, the number of surface states depends on the value assumed for ? or C(U₀ = Ce²/?). Varying ? or C, one can modify the shape of the potential from almost a step barrier to an image potential (C = 1) and study the existence of surface states in every case. In particular for C ? 1 (? ? 1 Å) more than one surface state in the higher gap are obtained.