Temperature dependence of surface tension and capillary waves at liquid metal surfaces

The temperature dependence of the surface tension γ(T) is treated theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical model based on the Gibbs thermodynamics of a one-component fluid relates ∂γ/∂T to the surface excess entropy density −ΔS. All specific surface effects, namely ordering, capillary waves, and double layer influence the surface entropy, which in turn governs the sign and the magnitude of ∂γ/∂T. Experimental data collected at a free Hg surface in the temperature range from 0°C to 30°C show that ∂γ/∂T is negative. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 2034–2042 (December 1998) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.     

Role of bulk and surface phonons in the decay of metal surface States

We present a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the electron-phonon contribution to the lifetime broadening of the surface states on Cu(111) and Ag(111), in comparison with high-resolution photoemission results. The calculations, including electron and phonon states of the bulk and the surface, resolve the relative importance of the Rayleigh mode, being dominant for the lifetime at small hole binding energies. Including the electron-electron interaction, the theoretical results are in excellent agreement with the measured binding energy and temperature dependent lifetime broadening.     

考虑液面凹陷时金属熔化与蒸发的数值研究

将关于液面凹陷的Young-Laplace方程与关于金属溶池的流体力学方程组及关于金属蒸发的ＢＧＫ方程联立求解，在给定的电子枪加热条件下，获得了熔池流场和温度场图像及金属蒸气密度、速度和温度分布.数值计算结果表明，随电子枪功率增加，金属的蒸发速率增加，蒸气的密度增大、温度降低而速度升高.与假设液面为平面的情况相比，考虑液面凹陷后求得的液面温度较低，金属的蒸发速率较小，并且这种差别随电子枪功率的增加而扩大.因此对于高功率电子枪加热金属蒸发，必须考虑液面凹陷的影响才能得到符合实际的结果. 关键词： 液面凹陷 Young-Laplace方程 熔池 金属蒸发     

Dispersion of surface polaritons at metal surfaces

The dispersion relation for surface polaritons at a vacuum-metal interface has been obtained using a wave-vector-dependent electrical conductivity. Surface polariton attenuation coefficients calculated in the limits of local and extreme nonlocal conductivity vary with frequency ω as ω² and ω^{$\text{7}\text{3}$} respectively.     

Surface and bulk melting of small metal clusters

We present an analytical solution to the two-parabola Landau model, applied to melting of metal particles with sizes in the nanoscale range. The results provide an analytical understanding of the recently observed pseudo-crystalline phase of nanoscale Sn particles. Liquid skin formation as a precursor of melting is found to occur only for particles with radii greater than an explicitly given critical radius. The size dependences of the melting temperature, and of the latent heat, have been calculated, and a quantitative agreement is found with the experiment on tin particles.     

Observation of surface layering in a nonmetallic liquid

Oscillatory density profiles (layers) have previously been observed at the free surfaces of liquid metals but not in other isotropic liquids. We have used x-ray reflectivity to study a molecular liquid, tetrakis(2-ethylhexoxy)silane. When cooled to T/Tc approximately 0.25 (well above the freezing point for this liquid), density oscillations appear at the surface. Lateral order within the layers is liquidlike. Our results confirm theoretical predictions that a surface-layered state will appear even in dielectric liquids at sufficiently low temperatures, if not preempted by freezing.     

Surface energy of liquid metals at the melting temperature related to bulk liquid structure

The product σχ_Tm of surface energy σ and isothermal compressibility σχ_Tm for liquid metals at the melting temperature T_m yields a length l ranging from about 0.2 to 0.5 Å over the entire range of liquid metals. The variation of l, which has been related brfore to the thickness of the liquid-vapour interface, is shown to be accurately represented by , where the constant c is determined empirically, K_B and N being the Boltzmann factor and Avogadro's number respectively, and S_Tm(0) the bulk liquid structure factor in the long wavelength limit at the melting temperature. A microscopic interpretation of l is proposed.     

Role of subsurface oxygen in oxide formation at transition metal surfaces

We present a density-functional theory trend study addressing the incorporation of oxygen into the basal plane of the late 4d transition metals (TMs) from Ru to Ag. Occupation of subsurface sites is always connected with a significant distortion of the host lattice, rendering it initially less favorable than on-surface chemisorption. Penetration starts only after a critical coverage theta(c), which is lower for the softer metals towards the right of the TM series. The computed theta(c) are found to be very similar to those above which the bulk oxide phase becomes thermodynamically more stable, thus suggesting that the initial incorporation of O actuates the formation of a surface oxide on TM surfaces.     

X-ray reflection and the electron density profile at liquid metal surfaces

The angular dependence of the reflection coefficient of X-rays from a planar liquid metal surface is shown to be sensitive to the thickness of the electron density profile in the surface region.     

Decay of electronic excitations in bulk metals and at surfaces

We present a brief survey of the contemporary state of theoretical study of quasiparticles (excited electrons and holes) dynamics in bulk metals and at metal surfaces. Quasiparticle decay mechanisms are discussed in terms of electron-electron (e-e) and electron-phonon (e-ph) interactions. The e-ph decay channel is shown to be important for all materials considered. It is especially important for systems with the thickness of one monolayer. In the e-e decay channel the quasiparticle decay can be realized via one-electron transfer processes, via creation of electron-hole pairs, and via plasmon excitation. In ferromagnetic systems the electron (hole) decay via the Stoner pair excitation or/and magnon excitation is made possible.     

Electron and ion emission from liquid metal surfaces

The application of positive or negative electric fields to small-area liquid metal surfaces leads to very high brightness DC ion or pulsed electron emission. The stabilization of a cone-shaped structure by the balance of electrostatic and surface tensions forces is described. Electron and ion emission occurs by field emission and field evaporation mechanisms     

Phonons and electrons at metal surfaces

Some aspects of the coupling between phonons and electrons and the interaction between electrons at metal surfaces are reviewed. Surface science techniques as diverse as electron energy loss spectroscopy, angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning tunnelling microscopy are employed to study these interactions. Electron–phonon and electron–electron coupling are discussed in terms of renormalized phonon dispersion relations, and increased decay rates of electronic excitations. PACS 63.20.Kr; 68.35.Ja; 68.37.Ef; 68.43.Pq; 72.10.Fk; 72.15.Qm; 73.20.At     

Analysis of a Lennard-Jones fcc structure melting to the corresponding frozen liquid: Differences between the bulk and the surface

We computed a Lennard-Jones frozen liquid with a free surface using classical molecular dynamics. The structure factor curves on the free surface of this sample were calculated for different depths knowing that we have periodic boundary conditions on the other parts of the sample. The resulting structure factor curves show an horizontal shift of their first peak depending on how deep in the sample the curves are computed. We analyze our resulting curves in the light of spatial correlation functions during melting. The conclusion is that the differences between bulk and surface are quite small during melting and that at the end of melting, only the very surface happens to be less dense than the bulk. This result is intrinsic to the shape of the Lennard-Jones potential and does not depend on any other parameter.     

Formation of conic cusps at the surface of liquid metal in electric field

The formation dynamics is studied for a singular profile of a surface of an ideal conducting fluid in an electric field. Self-similar solutions of electrohydrodynamic equations describing the fundamental process of formation of surface conic cusps with angles close to the Taylor cone angle 98.6° are obtained. The behavior of physical quantities (field strength, fluid velocity, surface curvature) near the singularity is established.