Anomalous layering at the liquid Sn surface
arXiv:cond-mat/0406583 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.70.224206
Abstract
X-ray reflectivity measurements on the free surface of liquid Sn are presented. They exhibit the high-angle peak, indicative of surface-induced layering, also found for other pure liquid metals (Hg, Ga and In). However, a low-angle peak, not hitherto observed for any pure liquid metal, is also found, indicating the presence of a high-density surface layer. Fluorescence and resonant reflectivity measurements rule out the assignment of this layer to surface-segregation of impurities. The reflectivity is modelled well by a 10% contraction of the spacing between the first and second atomic surface layers, relative to that of subsequent layers. Possible reasons for this are discussed.
8 pages, 9 figures; to be submitted to Phys. Rev. B; updated references, expanded discussion
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- Surface structure in simple liquid metals. An orbital free first principles study
- Interplay between the ionic and electronic density profiles in liquid metal surfaces
- Non-monotonic dynamic correlations beneath the surface of glass-forming liquids
- Ab initio study of the atomic motion in liquid metal surfaces: comparison with Lennard-Jones systems