title: Time-dependent electron phenomena at surfaces.
abstract: Femtosecond and subfemtosecond time scales typically rule electron dynamics at metal surfaces. Recent advance in experimental techniques permits now remarkable precision in the description of these processes. In particular, shorter time scales, smaller system sizes, and spin-dependent effects are current targets of interest. In this article, we use state-of-the-art theoretical methods to analyze these refined features of electron dynamics. We show that the screening of localized charges at metal surfaces is created locally in the attosecond time scale, while collective excitations transfer the perturbation to larger distances in longer time scales. We predict that the elastic width of the resonance in excited alkali adsorbates on ferromagnetic surfaces can depend on spin orientation in a counterintuitive way. Finally, we quantitatively evaluate the electron-electron and electron-phonon contributions to the electronic excited states widths in ultrathin metal layers. We conclude that confinement and spin effects are key factors in the behavior of electron dynamics at metal surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM-MPC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad del Pais Vasco (UPV-EHU), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: R Díez
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Muiño
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Portal
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Silkin
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Chulkov
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Echenique
mesh_terms: D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D004583:Electrons; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D008670:Metals; C001215:ferrite