The opening of several gaps in the surface band structure of vicinal Au(23 23 21) surfaces was shown by high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy, and the energy dependence of the surface electron density was determined by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy. From a methodological point of view, the values of the gaps and the phase of the electronic density allow an estimation of the reconstruction potential, which yields the electronic Bragg diffraction, the gap formation, and the modulation of the electron density. These spectroscopic behaviours give a pedagogical illustration of one of the basic concepts of solid state physics.

Reconstruction-Induced Multiple Gaps in the Weak Coupling Limit - the Surface Bands of Au(111) Vicinal Surfaces. C.Didiot, Y.Fagot-Revurat, S.Pons, B.Kierren, C.Chatelain, D.Malterre: Physical Review B, 2006, 74[8], 081404(R) (4pp)