Self-organization of Pb thin films on Cu(111) induced by quantum size effects

Electron confinement in thin films of Pb on Cu(111) leads to the formation of quantum well states, formed out of the upper valence band of Pb. Their evolution as a function of film thickness is characterized in angle-resolved photoemission and can be interpreted in terms of a straightforward quantum well model. This permits an identification of film growth mode at low temperatures. Bringing the films into thermal equilibrium by annealing induces strong changes in the spectra. Their interpretation demonstrates that specific "magic" layers are preferred because of total energy minimization induced by the arrangement of quantum well states with respect to the Fermi level.