Electron Scattering at Steps: Image-Potential States on Cu(119)

M. Roth, M. Pickel, J. Wang, M. Weinelt, and Th. Fauster

Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 096802 (2002).

The dynamics of image-potential states on Cu(119) has been studied with two-photon photoemission. Direction-dependent quasielastic scattering processes with large momentum transfer are attributed to the finite terrace-width distribution on the stepped surface. This effectively couples image-potential states via interband scattering and leads to an asymmetry of the decay rate. Electrons in the first image-potential state live apparently longer when running upstairs.