Nature 381, 398 - 400 (30 May 1996); doi:10.1038/381398a0

Direct observation of a surface charge density wave

Joseph M. Carpinelli^*, Hanno H. Weitering^*, E. Ward Plummer & Roland Stumpf^†

^* Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA, and Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
^† Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA

A CHARGE density wave (CDW) is a periodic symmetry-lowering redistribution of charge within a material, accompanied by a rearrangement of electronic bands (such that the total electronic energy is decreased) and usually a small periodic lattice distortion^1,2. This phenomenon is most commonly observed in crystals of reduced symmetry, such as quasi-two-dimensional³ or quasi-one-dimensional⁴ materials. In principle, the reduction of symmetry associated with surfaces and interfaces might also facilitate the formation of CDWs; although there is some indirect evidence for surface charge density waves^5–12,14, none has been observed directly. Here we report the observation and characterization of a reversible, temperature-induced CDW localized at the lead-coated (111) surface of a germanium crystal. The formation of this new phase is accompanied by significant periodic valence-charge redistribution, a pronounced lattice distortion and a metal–nonmetal transition. Theoretical calculations confirm that electron–phonon coupling drives the transition to the CDW, but it appears that some other factor—probably electron–electron correlations—is responsible for the ground-state stability of this phase.

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