@phdthesis{Wagner2024,
  author    = {Wagner, Tim Matthias},
  title     = {Characterization of 2D antimony lattices},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-36329},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363292},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {Two-dimensional lattices are in the focus of research in modern solid state physics due to their novel and exotic electronic properties with tremendous potential for seminal future applications. Of particular interest within this research field are quantum spin Hall insulators which are characterized by an insulating bulk with symmetry-protected metallic edge states. For electrons within these one-dimensional conducting channels, spin-momentum locking enables dissipationless transport - a property which promises nothing short of a revolution for electronic devices. So far, however, quantum spin Hall materials require enormous efforts to be realized such as cryogenic temperatures or ultra-high vacuum. A potential candidate to overcome these shortcomings are two-dimensional lattices of the topological semi-metal antimony due to their potential to host the quantum spin Hall effect while offering improved resilience against oxidation. In this work, two-dimensional lattices of antimony on different substrates, namely Ag(111), InSb(111) and SiC(0001), are investigated regarding their atomic structure and electronic properties with complimentary surface sensitive techniques. In addition, a systematic oxidation study compares the stability of Sb-SiC(0001) with that of the two-dimensional topological insulators bismuthene-SiC(0001) and indenene-SiC(0001). A comprehensive experimental analysis of the \((\sqrt{3}\times\sqrt{3})R30^\circ\) Sb-Ag(111) surface, including X-ray standing wave measurements, disproves the proclaimed formation of a buckled antimonene lattice in literature. The surface lattice can instead be identified as a metallic Ag\(_2\)Sb surface alloy. Antimony on InSb(111) shows an unstrained Volmer-Weber island growth due to its large lattice mismatch to the substrate. The concomitant moir\'{e} situation at the interface imprints mainly in a periodic height corrugation of the antimony islands which as observed with scanning tunneling microscopy. On islands with various thicknesses, quasiparticle interference patterns allow to trace the topological surface state of antimony down to the few-layer limit. On SiC(0001), two different two-dimensional antimony surface reconstructions are identified. Firstly, a metallic triangular \$1\times1\$ lattice which constitutes the antimony analogue to the topological insulator indenene. Secondly, an insulating asymmetric kagome lattice which represents the very first realized atomic surface kagome lattice. A comparative, systematic oxidation study of elemental (sub-)monolayer materials on SiC(0001) reveals a high sensitivity of indenene and bismuthene to small dosages of oxygen. An improved resilience is found for Sb-SiC(0001) which, however, oxidizes nevertheless if exposed to oxygen. These surface lattices are therefore not suitable for future applications without additional protective measures.},
  subject      = {Antimon},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{ElKareh2014,
  author    = {El-Kareh, Lydia},
  title     = {Rashba-type spin-split surface states: Heavy post transition metals on Ag(111)},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-112722},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {In the framework of this thesis, the structural and electronic properties of bismuth and lead deposited on Ag(111) have been investigated by means of low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (LT-STM) and spectroscopy (STS). Prior to spectroscopic investigations the growth characteristics have been investigated by means of STM and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) measurements. Submonolayer coverages as well as thick films have been investigated for both systems. Subsequently the quantum well characteristics of thick Pb films on Ag(111) have been analyzed and the quantum well character could be proved up to layer thicknesses of N ≈ 100 ML. The observed characteristics in STS spectra were explained by a simple cosine Taylor expansion and an in-plane energy dispersion could be detected by means of quasi-particle interferences. The main part of this work investigates the giant Rashba-type spin-split surface alloys of (√3 × √3)Pb/Ag(111)R30◦ and (√3 × √3)Bi/Ag(111)R30◦. With STS experiments the band positions and splitting strengths of the unoccupied (√3 × √3)Pb/Ag(111)R30◦ band dispersions could be resolved, which were unclear so far. The investigation by means of quasi-particle interferences resulted in the observation of several scattering events, which could be assigned as intra- and inter-band transitions. The analysis of scattering channels within a simple spin-conservation-approach turned out to be incomplete and led to contradictions between experiment and theory. In this framework more sophisticated DFT calculations could resolve the apparent deviations by a complete treatment of scattering in spin-orbit-coupled materials, which allows for constructive interferences in spin-flip scattering processes as long as the total momentum J_ is conserved. In a similar way the band dispersion of (√3 × √3)Bi/Ag(111)R30◦ was investigated. The STS spectra confirmed a hybridization gap opening between both Rashba-split bands and several intra- and inter-band scattering events could be observed in the complete energy range. The analysis within a spin-conservation-approach again turned out to be insufficient for explaining the observed scattering events in spin-orbit-coupled materials, which was confi by DFT calculations. Within these calculations an inter-band scattering event that has been identified as spin-conserving in the simple model could be assigned as a spin-flip scattering channel. This illustrates evidently how an incomplete description can lead to completely different indications. The present work shows that different spectroscopic STM modes are able to shed light on Rashba-split surface states. Whereas STS allowed to determine band onsets and splitting strengths, quasi-particle interferences could shed light on the band dispersions. A very important finding of this work is that spin-flip scattering events may result in constructive interferences, an eff which has so far been overlooked in related publications. Additionally it has been found that STM measurements can not distinguish between spin-conserving scattering events or spin-flip scattering events, which prevents to give a definite conclusion on the spin polarization for systems with mixed orbital symmetries just from the observed scattering events.},
  subject      = {Silber},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hoepfner2012,
  author    = {H{\"o}pfner, Philipp Alexander},
  title     = {Two-Dimensional Electron Systems at Surfaces — Spin-Orbit Interaction and Electronic Correlations},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-78876},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {This thesis addresses three different realizations of a truly two-dimensional electron system (2DES), established at the surface of elemental semiconductors, i.e., Pt/Si(111), Au/Ge(111), and Sn/Si(111). Characteristic features of atomic structures at surfaces have been studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and low energy electron diffraction with special emphasis on Pt deposition onto Si(111). Topographic inspection reveals that Pt atoms agglomerate as trimers, which represent the structural building block of phase-slip domains. Surprisingly, each trimer is rotated by 30° with respect to the substrate, which results in an unexpected symmetry breaking. In turn, this represents a unique example of a chiral structure at a semiconductor surface, and marks Pt/Si(111) as a promising candidate for catalytic processes at the atomic scale. Spin-orbit interactions (SOIs) play a significant role at surfaces involving heavy adatoms. As a result, a lift of the spin degeneracy in the electronic states, termed as Rashba effect, may be observed. A candidate system to exhibit such physics is Au/Ge(111). Its large hexagonal Fermi sheet is suggested to be spin-split by calculations within the density functional theory. Experimental clarification is obtained by exploiting the unique capabilities of three-dimensional spin detection in spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. Besides verification of the spin splitting, the in-plane components of the spin are shown to possess helical character, while also a prominent rotation out of this plane is observed along straight sections of the Fermi surface. Surprisingly and for the first time in a 2DES, additional in-plane rotations of the spin are revealed close to high symmetry directions. This complex spin pattern must originate from crystalline anisotropies, and it is best described by augmenting the original Rashba model with higher order Dresselhaus-like SOI terms. The alternative use of group-IV adatoms at a significantly reduced coverage drastically changes the basic properties of a 2DES. Electron localization is strongly enhanced, and the ground state characteristics will be dominated by correlation effects then. Sn/Si(111) is scrutinized with this regard. It serves as an ideal realization of a triangular lattice, that inherently suffers from spin frustration. Consequently, long-range magnetic order is prohibited, and the ground state is assumed to be either a spiral antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulator or a spin liquid. Here, the single-particle spectral function is utilized as a fundamental quantity to address the complex interplay of geometric frustration and electronic correlations. In particular, this is achieved by combining the complementary strengths of ab initio local density approximation (LDA) calculations, state-of-the-art angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, and the sophisticated many-body LDA+DCA. In this way, the evolution of a shadow band and a band backfolding incompatible with a spiral AFM order are unveiled. Moreover, beyond nearest-neighbor hopping processes are crucial here, and the spectral features must be attributed to a collinear AFM ground state, contrary to common expectation for a frustrated spin lattice.},
  subject      = {Halbleiteroberfl{\"a}che},
  language  = {en}
}