Atomic-layer-resolved bound states in quantum wells analyzed using a pseudopotential approach

We observed atomic-layer-resolved surface states and quantum-well states using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy on atomically flat Ag/Au(111) thin films grown with a two-step method. The layer dependence of binding energies of the bound states was determined unequivocally for a Ag coverage up to 17 monolayers. We analyzed both the surface states and the quantum-well states using a one-dimensional pseudopotential approach. Our results show a fruitful combination of growth techniques and theoretical analysis for thin-film systems.