Electronic states of dysprosium submonolayer films adsorbed on the W(100) surface

The unfilled electronic states of dysprosium submonolayer films absorbed on the W(100) surface are investigated using angle-resolved inverse photoelectron spectroscopy. It is shown that the energy position of the peak at 1.7 eV is independent of the angle of incidence of electrons onto the crystal surface. This specific feature is associated with electron transitions to the Dy 4f state located above the Fermi level. A correlation between the change in the energy position of this peak and the change in the work function with an increase in the absorbed dysprosium coverage suggests that the dipole moment of adatoms is affected by the dipole-dipole interaction.