Surface vibrations of Na(001) and K(001) surfaces

We present the results of a theoretical study of the dynamics of the atom motion of Na(001) and K(001) surfaces. The total electronic energy is calculated using a pseudopotential approach with a confined electron gas as unperturbed system. With this theory the dynamical matrix can he derived without resorting to empirical parametrizations. Surface phonon dispersion curves are reported for the high symmetry directions of the two-dimensional Brillouin zone for ideal and relaxed configurations. The calculated spectra are compared with the results of semi-empirical force constant calculations. The effects of single and multilayer relaxations on the location and the nature of the main surface bands are examined.