New STM image structures in the confined regions of the Pt(001) surface

In the regions confined by line defects of the reconstructed Pt(001) surface, new STM image structures have been observed. They can be seen only in a narrow energy window from the Fermi level. These new image structures represent redistribution of surface electronic charges as a result of the quantum confinement effect of the line defects. The new electronic density of states distributions are closely related to the original atomic corrugation. Their image intensities are uniform over the entire confined areas. Our observations and a model calculation support that the quantum confinement induced electronic charge redistribution is strongly coupled to the atomic arrangement.