Observation of surface state on ultrathin fcc γ-Mn(1 1 1 ) layer

The electronic structure of thin Mn layers on the Au(1 1 1 ) surface was investigated by means of photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) with angular resolution. The structural phase transition from fcc γ-Mn to cubic α-Mn which takes place between 4 and 6 ML is accompanied by the changes in the electronic structure of thin Mn films as detected by PES. Photoemission experiments show the formation of a surface state at 0.8 eV of binding energy on the ultrathin fcc γ-Mn(1 1 1 ) films. On the basis of band structure calculations this state can be ascribed to the Γ-centered 3 d z 2 -like surface state localized in the thin Mn layer on top of the Au(1 1 1 ) surface.