Structure and phonon spectrum of a submonolayer Ni film on the surface of Cu(100)

Abstract

The equilibrium atomic structure and the phonon spectra of a submonolayer (θ = 0.5 monolayer) Ni film deposited on the surface of Cu(100) are calculated using the potentials obtained by the embedded atom method. We consider atomic relaxation, the vibrational state density distribution on Ni and substrate atoms, and polarization of vibrational modes. Variation of the phonon spectrum upon segregation of Cu atoms on the film surface is considered. It is shown that mixing of vibrations of Ni adatoms with vibrations of substrate atoms occurs in the entire frequency range, leading to a frequency shift of the vibrational modes of the substrate and to the occurrence of new vibrational states atypical of a clean surface. The Cu(100)–c(2 × 2)–Ni structure is dynamically stabler when placed in the subsurface layer of the substrate.