Scanning tunneling microscopy study of the CeTe3 charge density wave

作者：Tomic A; Rak Zs; Veazey J P; Malliakas C D; Mahanti S D; Kanatzidis M G; Tessmer S H^*

来源：Physical Review B, 2009, 79(8): 085422.

DOI：10.1103/PhysRevB.79.085422

• band structure
• cerium alloys
• charge density waves
• Fourier transforms
• scanning tunnelling microscopy
• surface charging
• tellurium alloys

We have studied the nature of the surface charge distribution in CeTe3. This is a simple cleavable layered material with a robust one-dimensional incommensurate charge density wave (CDW). Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been applied on the exposed surface of a cleaved single crystal. At 77 K, the STM images show both the atomic lattice of surface Te atoms arranged in a square net and the CDW modulations oriented at 45 degrees with respect to the Te net. Fourier transform of the STM data shows Te square lattice peaks and peaks related to the CDW oriented at 45 degrees to the lattice peaks. In addition, clear peaks are present, consistent with subsurface structure and wave-vector mixing effects. These data are supported by electronic structure calculations, which show that the subsurface signal most likely arises from a lattice of Ce atoms situated 2.53 A below the surface Te net.

• 出版日期2009-2
• 单位西北大学