Description:

The physical and chemical properties of low-dimensional structures are unique functions of their size and shape and differ largely from the behavior of bulk matter. Particularly fascinating phenomena occur if the nanostructures are subject to lateral boundary conditions on a length scale where quantum behavior prevails; magnetic nanostructures can be made out of traditionally non magnetic elements, catalytic activity can emerge, and new electronic quantum devices can be built.

The thermal damping of quantum interference patterns from surface-state electrons scattering off steps on Ag(111) and Cu(111) has been studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy in the temperature range 3.5 K - 178 K [3]. The thermal damping of the electron standing waves is described quantitatively within a simple plane wave model accounting for thermal broadening due to the broadening of the Fermi-Dirac distributions of sample and tip.
 

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