Surfaces and Interfaces of Solids

This book emphasises both experimental and theoretical aspects of surface, interface and thin film physics. Compa- red to the earlier editions, which bore the title "Surfaces and Interfaces of Solid Materials", the book now places more emphasis on thin films, including also their superconducting and ferromagnetic properties. The present 4th edition thus presents techniques of preparing well-defined solid surfaces and interfaces, fundamental aspects of adsorption and layer growth, as well as basic models for the descripti- on of structural, vibronic and electronic properties of sur- faces, interfaces and thin films. Because of their importan- ce for modern information technology, significant attention is paid to the electronic properties of semiconductor inter- faces and heterostructures. Collective phenomena , such as superconductivity and ferromagnetism, also feature promi- nently. Experimental sections covering essential measurement and preparation techniques are presented in separate panels.

This book emphasises both experimental and theoretical aspects of surface, interface and thin film physics. As in previous editions the preparation of surfaces and thin films, their atomic and morphological, their vibronic and electronic properties as well as fundamentals of adsorption are treated. Because of their importance in modern information technology and nanostructure physics particular emphasis is paid to electronic surface and interface states, semiconductor space charge layers and heterostructures as well as to superconductor/semiconductor interfaces and magnetic thin films. The latter topic was significantly extended in this new edition by more details about the giant magnetoresistance and a section about the spin-transfer torque mechanism including one new problem as exercise. Two new panels about Kerr-effect and spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscopy were added, too. Furthermore, the meanwhile important group III-nitride surfaces and high-k oxide/semiconductor interfaces are shortly discussed in this new 5th edition of the book.