Z.sub.3./sub. charge density wave of silicon atomic chains on a vicinal silicon surface

0558816 - FZÚ 2023 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Do, E. - Park, J.-W. - Stetsovych, Oleksandr - Jelínek, Pavel - Yeom, H.W.
Z₃ charge density wave of silicon atomic chains on a vicinal silicon surface.
ACS Nano. Roč. 16, č. 4 (2022), s. 6598-6604. ISSN 1936-0851. E-ISSN 1936-086X
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GX20-13692X
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : nc-AFM * DFT * 1D chains * CDW
OECD category: Condensed matter physics (including formerly solid state physics, supercond.)
Impact factor: 17.1, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access

An ideal one-dimensional electronic system is formed along atomic chains on Au-decorated vicinal silicon surfaces, but the nature of its low-temperature phases has been puzzling for last two decades. Here, we unambiguously identify the low-temperature structural distortion of this surface using high-resolution atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. The most important structural ingredient of this surface, the step-edge Si chains, are found to be strongly buckled, every third atom down, forming trimer unit cells. This observation is consistent with the recent model of rehybridized dangling bonds and rules out the antiferromagnetic spin ordering proposed earlier. The spectroscopy and electronic structure calculation indicate a charge density wave insulator with a Z3 topology, making it possible to exploit topological phases and excitations.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0333948