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.

Autorentext

Hans Lüth was born in Aachen, Germany, in 1940. He received the diploma in physics in 1965 and the doctoral degree (PhD) in physics in 1968, both from the Aachen University of Technology (RWTH). Between 1974 and 1986 he held several guest scientist and visiting professor positions at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Centre (USA), the Universities of Paris (F), Aix-Marseille (F) and Modena (I). Since 1980 he has been professor for physics and since 2000 simultaneously professor for electrical engineering at the RWTH Aachen. Additionally, in 1988 he became the director of the Institute of Bio- and Nanosystems at the Research Centre Jülich, Germany. In 2006 and 2007 he was Research Director for Key Technologies at the Research Centre Jülich. For his scientific work and for his globally used text books he was awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa by the Universite de Haute-Alsace, Mulhouse-Colmar (F). His research interests center around semiconductor interface physics and quantum electronics.

Klappentext

Solid Surfaces, Interfaces and Thin Films examines both experimental and theoretical aspects of surface, interface and thin film physics. Coverage of magnetic thin films has been expanded, and now includes giant magnetoresistance and the spin-transfer torque mechanism.

Inhalt

Surface and Interface Physics: Its Definition and Importance.- Preparation of Well-Defined Surfaces and Interfaces.- Morphology and Structure of Surfaces and Interfaces.- Scattering from Surfaces.- Surface Phonons.- Electronic Surface States.- Space-Charge Layers at Semiconductor Interfaces.- Metal-Semiconductor Junctions, and Semiconductor Heterostructures.- Collective Phenomena at Interfaces: Superconductivity and Ferromagnetism.- Adsorption on Solid Surfaces