It was demonstrated that quantum size effects played a crucial role, in the row structure of metal-induced Si(111) reconstructions, by identifying so-called magic widths of metal adsorbates having a minimum electron energy as a function of adsorbate width. Without introducing any adjustable parameters, accurate agreement was obtained with all of the results for Si(111)-(4 x 1)-In and Si(111)-(3 x 1)-M structures (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag). This simple physical picture of electron energies in metal adsorbates provided a universal quantitative model for describing the row structures of metal-induced Si(111) surface reconstructions.

Row Structure in Metal-Induced Si(111) Surface Reconstructions. K.Jin, B.C.Sanders, S.Pan, G.Yang: Surface and Interface Analysis, 2001, 32[1], 166-70