Two-photon photoemission via image-potential states

Abstract

Strong two-photon photoemission is observed from Ag(111) and Cu(111) surfaces with image-potential states as intermediates. Three processes are found: (a) resonant excitation, (b) relaxation into the intermediate state, and (c) energy pooling via collisions between excited electrons. For Ag(111) we find two image-potential states with binding energies of 0.77\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03 and 0.23\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03 eV, close to the hydrogenic values, and an unidentified state 2.57\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 eV below the vacuum level. The work function is 4.49\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 eV.