2026
|
| 16. | M. Stettner, S. Kaidisch, Andrey V. Matetskiy, E. Fackelman, S. Soubatch, C. Kumpf, F. C. Bocquet, M. G. Ramsey, P. Puschnig, F. S. Tautz Tracing the film structure of an organic semiconductor with photoemission orbital tomography Journal Article Forthcoming In: arXiv:2603.06204 [cond-mat.mtrl-sci], Forthcoming. @article{Stettner2026,
title = {Tracing the film structure of an organic semiconductor with photoemission orbital tomography},
author = {M. Stettner and S. Kaidisch and Andrey V. Matetskiy and E. Fackelman and S. Soubatch and C. Kumpf and F. C. Bocquet and M. G. Ramsey and P. Puschnig and F. S. Tautz},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.06204},
doi = {10.48550/arXiv.2603.06204},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-03-06},
journal = {arXiv:2603.06204 [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {article}
}
|
| 15. | V. Eggers, G. Inzani, M. Meierhofer, L. Münster, J. Helml, R. Wallauer, S. Zajusch, S. Ito, L. Machtl, H. Yin, C. Kumpf, F. C. Bocquet, C. Bao, J. Güdde, F. S. Tautz, R. Huber, U. Höfer Subcycle videography of lightwave-driven Landau-Zener-Majorana transitions in graphene Journal Article Forthcoming In: arXiv:2602.12844 [cond-mat.mes-hall], Forthcoming. @article{Eggers2026,
title = {Subcycle videography of lightwave-driven Landau-Zener-Majorana transitions in graphene},
author = {V. Eggers and G. Inzani and M. Meierhofer and L. Münster and J. Helml and R. Wallauer and S. Zajusch and S. Ito and L. Machtl and H. Yin and C. Kumpf and F. C. Bocquet and C. Bao and J. Güdde and F. S. Tautz and R. Huber and U. Höfer},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.12844},
doi = {10.48550/arXiv.2602.12844},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-02-13},
journal = {arXiv:2602.12844 [cond-mat.mes-hall]},
abstract = {Strong light fields have unlocked previously unthinkable possibilities to tailor coherent electron trajectories, engineer band structures and shape emergent phases of matter all-optically. Unravelling the underlying quantum mechanisms requires a visualisation of the lightwave-driven electron motion directly in the band structure. While photoelectron momentum microscopy has imaged optically excited electrons averaged over many cycles of light, actual subcycle band-structure videography has been limited to small electron momenta. Yet lightwave-driven elementary processes in quantum materials often occur throughout momentum space. Here, we introduce attosecond-precision, subcycle band-structure videography covering the entire first Brillouin zone (BZ) and visualize one of the most fundamental but notoriously elusive strong-field processes: non-adiabatic Landau-Zener-Majorana (LZM) tunnelling. The interplay of field-driven acceleration within the Dirac-like band structure of graphene and periodic LZM interband tunnelling manifest in a coherent displacement and distortion of the momentum distribution at the BZ edge. The extremely non-thermal electron distributions also allow us to disentangle competing scattering processes and assess their impact on coherent electronic control through electron redistribution and thermalization. Our panoramic view of strong-field-driven electron motion in quantum materials lays the foundation for a microscopic understanding of some of the most discussed light-driven phenomena in condensed matter physics. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Strong light fields have unlocked previously unthinkable possibilities to tailor coherent electron trajectories, engineer band structures and shape emergent phases of matter all-optically. Unravelling the underlying quantum mechanisms requires a visualisation of the lightwave-driven electron motion directly in the band structure. While photoelectron momentum microscopy has imaged optically excited electrons averaged over many cycles of light, actual subcycle band-structure videography has been limited to small electron momenta. Yet lightwave-driven elementary processes in quantum materials often occur throughout momentum space. Here, we introduce attosecond-precision, subcycle band-structure videography covering the entire first Brillouin zone (BZ) and visualize one of the most fundamental but notoriously elusive strong-field processes: non-adiabatic Landau-Zener-Majorana (LZM) tunnelling. The interplay of field-driven acceleration within the Dirac-like band structure of graphene and periodic LZM interband tunnelling manifest in a coherent displacement and distortion of the momentum distribution at the BZ edge. The extremely non-thermal electron distributions also allow us to disentangle competing scattering processes and assess their impact on coherent electronic control through electron redistribution and thermalization. Our panoramic view of strong-field-driven electron motion in quantum materials lays the foundation for a microscopic understanding of some of the most discussed light-driven phenomena in condensed matter physics. |
2025
|
| 14. | M. Theilen, S. Kaidisch, M. Stettner, S. Zajusch, E. Fackelman, A. Adamkiewicz, R. Wallauer, A. Windischbacher, C. S. Kern, M. G. Ramsey, F. C. Bocquet, S. Soubatch, F. S. Tautz, U. Höfer, P. Puschnig Observing the spatial and temporal evolution of exciton wave functions Journal Article Forthcoming In: arXiv:2511.23001 [cond-mat.mtrl-sci], Forthcoming. @article{Theilen2025,
title = {Observing the spatial and temporal evolution of exciton wave functions},
author = {M. Theilen and S. Kaidisch and M. Stettner and S. Zajusch and E. Fackelman and A. Adamkiewicz and R. Wallauer and A. Windischbacher and C. S. Kern and M. G. Ramsey and F. C. Bocquet and S. Soubatch and F. S. Tautz and U. Höfer and P. Puschnig},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.23001},
doi = {10.48550/arXiv.2511.23001},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-11-28},
urldate = {2025-11-28},
journal = { arXiv:2511.23001 [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]},
abstract = {Excitons, the correlated electron-hole pairs governing optical and transport properties in organic semiconductors, have long resisted direct experimental access to their full quantum-mechanical wave functions. Here, we use femtosecond time-resolved photoemission orbital tomography (trPOT), combining high-harmonic probe pulses with time- and momentum-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, to directly image the momentum-space distribution and ultrafast dynamics of excitons in -sexithiophene thin films. We introduce a quantitative model that enables reconstruction of the exciton wave function in real space, including both its spatial extent and its internal phase structure. The reconstructed wave function reveals coherent delocalization across approximately three molecular units and exhibits a characteristic phase modulation, consistent with ab initio calculations within the framework of many-body perturbation theory. Time-resolved measurements further show a % contraction of the exciton radius within 400 fs, providing direct evidence of self-trapping driven by exciton-phonon coupling. These results establish trPOT as a general and experimentally accessible approach for resolving exciton wave functions -- with spatial, phase, and temporal sensitivity -- in a broad class of molecular and low-dimensional materials. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Excitons, the correlated electron-hole pairs governing optical and transport properties in organic semiconductors, have long resisted direct experimental access to their full quantum-mechanical wave functions. Here, we use femtosecond time-resolved photoemission orbital tomography (trPOT), combining high-harmonic probe pulses with time- and momentum-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, to directly image the momentum-space distribution and ultrafast dynamics of excitons in -sexithiophene thin films. We introduce a quantitative model that enables reconstruction of the exciton wave function in real space, including both its spatial extent and its internal phase structure. The reconstructed wave function reveals coherent delocalization across approximately three molecular units and exhibits a characteristic phase modulation, consistent with ab initio calculations within the framework of many-body perturbation theory. Time-resolved measurements further show a % contraction of the exciton radius within 400 fs, providing direct evidence of self-trapping driven by exciton-phonon coupling. These results establish trPOT as a general and experimentally accessible approach for resolving exciton wave functions -- with spatial, phase, and temporal sensitivity -- in a broad class of molecular and low-dimensional materials. |
| 13. | C. S. Kern, X. Yang, G. Zamborlini, S. Mearini, M. Jugovac, V. Feyer, U. De Giovannini, A. Rubio, S. Soubatch, M. G. Ramsey, F. S. Tautz, P. Puschnig Circular dichroism in the photoelectron angular distribution of achiral molecules Journal Article Forthcoming In: arXiv:2507.12113 [cond-mat.mtrl-sci], Forthcoming. @article{Kern2025,
title = {Circular dichroism in the photoelectron angular distribution of achiral molecules},
author = {C. S. Kern and X. Yang and G. Zamborlini and S. Mearini and M. Jugovac and V. Feyer and U. De Giovannini and A. Rubio and S. Soubatch and M. G. Ramsey and F. S. Tautz and P. Puschnig},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.12113},
doi = {10.48550/arXiv.2507.12113},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-16},
urldate = {2025-07-16},
journal = {arXiv:2507.12113 [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {article}
}
|
| 12. | A. Haags, D. Brandstetter, X. Yang, L. Egger, H. Kirschner, A. Gottwald, M. Richter, G. Koller, F. C. Bocquet, C. Wagner, M. G. Ramsey, S. Soubatch, P. Puschnig, F. S. Tautz Tomographic identification of all molecular orbitals in a wide binding-energy range Journal Article In: Phys. Rev. B, vol. 111, no. 16, 2025, ISSN: 2469-9969. @article{Haags2025b,
title = {Tomographic identification of all molecular orbitals in a wide binding-energy range},
author = {A. Haags and D. Brandstetter and X. Yang and L. Egger and H. Kirschner and A. Gottwald and M. Richter and G. Koller and F. C. Bocquet and C. Wagner and M. G. Ramsey and S. Soubatch and P. Puschnig and F. S. Tautz},
doi = {10.1103/physrevb.111.165402},
issn = {2469-9969},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-00},
urldate = {2025-04-00},
journal = {Phys. Rev. B},
volume = {111},
number = {16},
publisher = {American Physical Society (APS)},
abstract = {<jats:p>In the past decade, photoemission orbital tomography (POT) has evolved into a powerful tool to investigate the electronic structure of organic molecules adsorbed on surfaces. Here we show that POT allows for the comprehensive experimental identification of all molecular orbitals in a substantial binding energy range of more than 10 eV. Making use of the angular distribution of photoelectrons as a function of binding-energy, we exemplify this by extracting an orbital-resolved projected density of states for 15 <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><a:mi>π</a:mi></a:math> and 23 <b:math xmlns:b="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><b:mi>σ</b:mi></b:math> orbitals from the experimental data of the prototypical organic molecule bisanthene (<c:math xmlns:c="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><c:mrow><c:msub><c:mi mathvariant="normal">C</c:mi><c:mn>28</c:mn></c:msub><c:msub><c:mi mathvariant="normal">H</c:mi><c:mn>14</c:mn></c:msub></c:mrow></c:math>) on a Cu(110) surface. These experimental results for an essentially complete set of orbitals within the given binding-energy range serve as stringent benchmarks for electronic structure methods, which we illustrate by performing density functional calculations employing four frequently used exchange-correlation functionals. By computing the respective molecular-orbital-projected densities of states, a one-to-one comparison with experimental data for an unprecedented number of 38 orbital energies became possible. The quantitative analysis of our data reveals that the range-separated hybrid functional HSE performs best for the investigated organic/metal interface. At a more fundamental level, the remarkable agreement between the experimental and the Kohn-Sham orbital energies over a binding-energy range larger than 10 eV suggests that—perhaps unexpectedly—Kohn-Sham orbitals approximate Dyson orbitals, which would rigorously account for the electron extraction process in photoemission spectroscopy but are notoriously difficult to compute, in a much better way than previously thought.</jats:p>
<jats:sec>
<jats:title/>
<jats:supplementary-material>
<jats:permissions>
<jats:copyright-statement>Published by the American Physical Society</jats:copyright-statement>
<jats:copyright-year>2025</jats:copyright-year>
</jats:permissions>
</jats:supplementary-material>
</jats:sec>},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
<jats:p>In the past decade, photoemission orbital tomography (POT) has evolved into a powerful tool to investigate the electronic structure of organic molecules adsorbed on surfaces. Here we show that POT allows for the comprehensive experimental identification of all molecular orbitals in a substantial binding energy range of more than 10 eV. Making use of the angular distribution of photoelectrons as a function of binding-energy, we exemplify this by extracting an orbital-resolved projected density of states for 15 <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><a:mi>π</a:mi></a:math> and 23 <b:math xmlns:b="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><b:mi>σ</b:mi></b:math> orbitals from the experimental data of the prototypical organic molecule bisanthene (<c:math xmlns:c="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><c:mrow><c:msub><c:mi mathvariant="normal">C</c:mi><c:mn>28</c:mn></c:msub><c:msub><c:mi mathvariant="normal">H</c:mi><c:mn>14</c:mn></c:msub></c:mrow></c:math>) on a Cu(110) surface. These experimental results for an essentially complete set of orbitals within the given binding-energy range serve as stringent benchmarks for electronic structure methods, which we illustrate by performing density functional calculations employing four frequently used exchange-correlation functionals. By computing the respective molecular-orbital-projected densities of states, a one-to-one comparison with experimental data for an unprecedented number of 38 orbital energies became possible. The quantitative analysis of our data reveals that the range-separated hybrid functional HSE performs best for the investigated organic/metal interface. At a more fundamental level, the remarkable agreement between the experimental and the Kohn-Sham orbital energies over a binding-energy range larger than 10 eV suggests that—perhaps unexpectedly—Kohn-Sham orbitals approximate Dyson orbitals, which would rigorously account for the electron extraction process in photoemission spectroscopy but are notoriously difficult to compute, in a much better way than previously thought.</jats:p>
<jats:sec>
<jats:title/>
<jats:supplementary-material>
<jats:permissions>
<jats:copyright-statement>Published by the American Physical Society</jats:copyright-statement>
<jats:copyright-year>2025</jats:copyright-year>
</jats:permissions>
</jats:supplementary-material>
</jats:sec> |
| 11. | Y. Nakayama, F. C. Bocquet, R. Tsuruta, S. Soubatch, F. S. Tautz Anisotropic dispersion of excitonic bands of the single-crystal pentacene (001) surface as measured by low-energy angle-resolved high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy Journal Article In: Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena, vol. 279, iss. 147514, 2025. @article{Nakayama2025b,
title = {Anisotropic dispersion of excitonic bands of the single-crystal pentacene (001) surface as measured by low-energy angle-resolved high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy},
author = {Y. Nakayama and F. C. Bocquet and R. Tsuruta and S. Soubatch and F. S. Tautz},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0368204825000015},
doi = {10.1016/j.elspec.2025.147514},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-31},
journal = {Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena},
volume = {279},
issue = {147514},
abstract = {Low-energy high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS) is a useful technique for the charac-
terization of various excitation processes at solid surfaces. However, no successful work has been reported on
molecular single-crystal samples yet. In the present study, low-energy angle-resolved HREELS measurements
were conducted on single-crystal pentacene, an organic semiconductor. The results confirmed the excitonic
bands exhibiting energy–momentum dispersion and anisotropy of these depending on the surface crystallo-
graphic directions, corroborating the occurrence of exciton delocalization, contrary to the ordinary notion of the
Frenkel exciton for weakly interacting van der Waals molecular solids. The present results demonstrate that low-
energy angle-resolved HREELS is applicable to the precise examination of the excitonic characteristics of solid-
state surfaces, even for molecular semiconductor single crystals.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Low-energy high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS) is a useful technique for the charac-
terization of various excitation processes at solid surfaces. However, no successful work has been reported on
molecular single-crystal samples yet. In the present study, low-energy angle-resolved HREELS measurements
were conducted on single-crystal pentacene, an organic semiconductor. The results confirmed the excitonic
bands exhibiting energy–momentum dispersion and anisotropy of these depending on the surface crystallo-
graphic directions, corroborating the occurrence of exciton delocalization, contrary to the ordinary notion of the
Frenkel exciton for weakly interacting van der Waals molecular solids. The present results demonstrate that low-
energy angle-resolved HREELS is applicable to the precise examination of the excitonic characteristics of solid-
state surfaces, even for molecular semiconductor single crystals. |
| 10. | A. Haags, D. Brandstetter, X. Yang, L. Egger, H. Kirschner, A. Gottwald, M. Richter, G. Koller, F. C. Bocquet, C. Wagner, M. G. Ramsey, S. Soubatch, P. Puschnig, F. S. Tautz Tomographic identification of all molecular orbitals in a wide binding energy range Journal Article Forthcoming In: ArXiv, Forthcoming. @article{Haags2025,
title = {Tomographic identification of all molecular orbitals in a wide binding energy range},
author = {A. Haags and D. Brandstetter and X. Yang and L. Egger and H. Kirschner and A. Gottwald and M. Richter and G. Koller and F. C. Bocquet and C. Wagner and M. G. Ramsey and S. Soubatch and P. Puschnig and F. S. Tautz},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.05287},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-09},
urldate = {2025-01-09},
journal = {ArXiv},
abstract = {In the past decade, photoemission orbital tomography (POT) has evolved into a powerful tool to investigate the electronic structure of organic molecules adsorbed on surfaces. Here we show that POT allows for the comprehensive experimental identification of all molecular orbitals in a substantial binding energy range, in the present case more than 10 eV. Making use of the angular distribution of photoelectrons as a function of binding energy, we exemplify this by extracting orbital-resolved partial densities of states (pDOS) for 15 π and 23 σ orbitals from the experimental photoemission intensities of the prototypical organic molecule bisanthene (C28H14) on a Cu(110) surface. In their entirety, these experimentally measured orbital-resolved pDOS for an essentially complete set of orbitals serve as a stringent benchmark for electronic structure methods, which we illustrate by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations employing four frequently-used exchange-correlation functionals. By computing the respective molecular-orbital-projected densities of states of the bisanthene/Cu(110) interface, a one-to-one comparison with experimental data for an unprecedented number of 38 orbital energies becomes possible. The quantitative analysis of our data reveals that the range-separated hybrid functional HSE performs best for the investigated organic/metal interface. At a more fundamental level, the remarkable agreement between the experimental and the Kohn-Sham orbital energies over a binding energy range larger than 10,eV suggests that -- perhaps unexpectedly -- Kohn-Sham orbitals approximate Dyson orbitals, which would rigorously account for the electron extraction process in photoemission spectroscopy but are notoriously difficult to compute, in a much better way than previously thought. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In the past decade, photoemission orbital tomography (POT) has evolved into a powerful tool to investigate the electronic structure of organic molecules adsorbed on surfaces. Here we show that POT allows for the comprehensive experimental identification of all molecular orbitals in a substantial binding energy range, in the present case more than 10 eV. Making use of the angular distribution of photoelectrons as a function of binding energy, we exemplify this by extracting orbital-resolved partial densities of states (pDOS) for 15 π and 23 σ orbitals from the experimental photoemission intensities of the prototypical organic molecule bisanthene (C28H14) on a Cu(110) surface. In their entirety, these experimentally measured orbital-resolved pDOS for an essentially complete set of orbitals serve as a stringent benchmark for electronic structure methods, which we illustrate by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations employing four frequently-used exchange-correlation functionals. By computing the respective molecular-orbital-projected densities of states of the bisanthene/Cu(110) interface, a one-to-one comparison with experimental data for an unprecedented number of 38 orbital energies becomes possible. The quantitative analysis of our data reveals that the range-separated hybrid functional HSE performs best for the investigated organic/metal interface. At a more fundamental level, the remarkable agreement between the experimental and the Kohn-Sham orbital energies over a binding energy range larger than 10,eV suggests that -- perhaps unexpectedly -- Kohn-Sham orbitals approximate Dyson orbitals, which would rigorously account for the electron extraction process in photoemission spectroscopy but are notoriously difficult to compute, in a much better way than previously thought. |
2023
|
| 9. | A. Adamkiewicz, M. Raths, M. Stettner, M. Theilen, L. Münster, S. Wenzel, M. Hutter, S. Soubatch, C. Kumpf, F. C. Bocquet, R. Wallauer, F. S. Tautz, U. Höfer Coherent and Incoherent Excitation Pathways in Time-Resolved Photoemission Orbital Tomography of CuPc/Cu(001)-2O Journal Article In: J.Phys. Chem. C, vol. 127, pp. 20411, 2023. @article{Adamkiewicz2023,
title = {Coherent and Incoherent Excitation Pathways in Time-Resolved Photoemission Orbital Tomography of CuPc/Cu(001)-2O},
author = {A. Adamkiewicz and M. Raths and M. Stettner and M. Theilen and L. Münster and S. Wenzel and M. Hutter and S. Soubatch and C. Kumpf and F. C. Bocquet and R. Wallauer and F. S. Tautz and U. Höfer},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c04859},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-10-09},
urldate = {2023-10-09},
journal = {J.Phys. Chem. C},
volume = {127},
pages = {20411},
abstract = {Time-resolved photoemission orbital tomography (tr-POT) offers unique possibilities for tracing molecular electron dynamics. The recorded pump-induced changes of the angle-resolved photoemission intensities allow one to characterize unoccupied molecular states in momentum space and to deduce the incoherent temporal evolution of their population. Here, we show for the example of CuPc/Cu(001)-2O that the method also gives access to the coherent regime and that different excitation pathways can be disentangled by a careful analysis of the time-dependent change of the photoemission momentum pattern. In particular, we demonstrate by varying photon energy and polarization of the pump light how the incoherent temporal evolution of the LUMO distribution can be distinguished from coherent contributions of the projected HOMO. Moreover, we report the selective excitation of molecules with a specific orientation at normal incidence by aligning the electric field of the pump light along the molecular axis.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Time-resolved photoemission orbital tomography (tr-POT) offers unique possibilities for tracing molecular electron dynamics. The recorded pump-induced changes of the angle-resolved photoemission intensities allow one to characterize unoccupied molecular states in momentum space and to deduce the incoherent temporal evolution of their population. Here, we show for the example of CuPc/Cu(001)-2O that the method also gives access to the coherent regime and that different excitation pathways can be disentangled by a careful analysis of the time-dependent change of the photoemission momentum pattern. In particular, we demonstrate by varying photon energy and polarization of the pump light how the incoherent temporal evolution of the LUMO distribution can be distinguished from coherent contributions of the projected HOMO. Moreover, we report the selective excitation of molecules with a specific orientation at normal incidence by aligning the electric field of the pump light along the molecular axis. |
| 8. | C. S. Kern, A. Haags, L.Egger, X. Yang, H. Kirschner, S. Wolff, T. Seyller, A. Gottwald, M. Richter, U. De Giovannini, A. Rubio, M. G. Ramsey, F. C. Bocquet, Soubatch, F. S. Tautz, P. Puschnig, S. Moser Simple extension of the plane-wave final state in photoemission: Bringing understanding to the photon-energy dependence of two-dimensional materials Journal Article In: Phys. Rev. Research, vol. 5, iss. 033075, 2023. @article{Kern2023b,
title = {Simple extension of the plane-wave final state in photoemission: Bringing understanding to the photon-energy dependence of two-dimensional materials},
author = {C. S. Kern and A. Haags and L.Egger and X. Yang and H. Kirschner and S. Wolff and T. Seyller and A. Gottwald and M. Richter and U. De Giovannini and A. Rubio and M. G. Ramsey and F. C. Bocquet and Soubatch and F. S. Tautz and P. Puschnig and S. Moser},
url = {https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.033075},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.033075},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-08-03},
journal = {Phys. Rev. Research},
volume = {5},
issue = {033075},
abstract = {Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is a method that measures orbital and band structure contrast through the momentum distribution of photoelectrons. Its simplest interpretation is obtained in the plane-wave approximation, according to which photoelectrons propagate freely to the detector. The photoelectron momentum distribution is then essentially given by the Fourier transform of the real-space orbital. While the plane-wave approximation is remarkably successful in describing the momentum distributions of aromatic compounds, it generally fails to capture kinetic-energy-dependent final-state interference and dichroism effects. Focusing our present study on quasi-freestanding monolayer graphene as the archetypical two-dimensional (2D) material, we observe an exemplary 𝐸kin
-dependent modulation of, and a redistribution of spectral weight within, its characteristic horseshoe signature around the
‾‾‾
K
and
‾‾‾
K
′
points: both effects indeed cannot be rationalized by the plane-wave final state. Our data are, however, in remarkable agreement with ab initio time-dependent density functional simulations of a freestanding graphene layer and can be explained by a simple extension of the plane-wave final state, permitting the two dipole-allowed partial waves emitted from the C 2𝑝𝑧
orbitals to scatter in the potential of their immediate surroundings. Exploiting the absolute photon flux calibration of the Metrology Light Source, this scattered-wave approximation allows us to extract 𝐸kin
-dependent amplitudes and phases of both partial waves directly from photoemission data. The scattered-wave approximation thus represents a powerful yet intuitive refinement of the plane-wave final state in photoemission of 2D materials and beyond.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is a method that measures orbital and band structure contrast through the momentum distribution of photoelectrons. Its simplest interpretation is obtained in the plane-wave approximation, according to which photoelectrons propagate freely to the detector. The photoelectron momentum distribution is then essentially given by the Fourier transform of the real-space orbital. While the plane-wave approximation is remarkably successful in describing the momentum distributions of aromatic compounds, it generally fails to capture kinetic-energy-dependent final-state interference and dichroism effects. Focusing our present study on quasi-freestanding monolayer graphene as the archetypical two-dimensional (2D) material, we observe an exemplary 𝐸kin
-dependent modulation of, and a redistribution of spectral weight within, its characteristic horseshoe signature around the
‾‾‾
K
and
‾‾‾
K
′
points: both effects indeed cannot be rationalized by the plane-wave final state. Our data are, however, in remarkable agreement with ab initio time-dependent density functional simulations of a freestanding graphene layer and can be explained by a simple extension of the plane-wave final state, permitting the two dipole-allowed partial waves emitted from the C 2𝑝𝑧
orbitals to scatter in the potential of their immediate surroundings. Exploiting the absolute photon flux calibration of the Metrology Light Source, this scattered-wave approximation allows us to extract 𝐸kin
-dependent amplitudes and phases of both partial waves directly from photoemission data. The scattered-wave approximation thus represents a powerful yet intuitive refinement of the plane-wave final state in photoemission of 2D materials and beyond. |
2022
|
| 7. | X. Yang, M. Jugovac, G. Zamborlini, V. Feyer, G. Koller, P. Puschnig, S. Soubatch, M. G. Ramsey, F. S. Tautz Momentum-selective orbital hybridisation Journal Article In: Nat. Commun., vol. 13, pp. 5148, 2022. @article{Yang2022,
title = {Momentum-selective orbital hybridisation},
author = {X. Yang and M. Jugovac and G. Zamborlini and V. Feyer and G. Koller and P. Puschnig and S. Soubatch and M. G. Ramsey and F. S. Tautz},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-022-32643-z},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Nat. Commun.},
volume = {13},
pages = {5148},
abstract = {When a molecule interacts chemically with a metal surface, the orbitals of the molecule hybridise with metal states to form the new eigenstates of the coupled system. Spatial overlap and energy matching are determining parameters of the hybridisation. However, since every molecular orbital does not only have a characteristic spatial shape, but also a specific momentum distribution, one may additionally expect a momentum matching condition; after all, each hybridising wave function of the metal has a defined wave vector, too. Here, we report photoemission orbital tomography measurements of hybrid orbitals that emerge from molecular orbitals at a molecule-on-metal interface. We find that in the hybrid orbitals only those partial waves of the original orbital survive which match the metal band structure. Moreover, we find that the conversion of the metal’s surface state into a hybrid interface state is also governed by momentum matching constraints. Our experiments demonstrate the possibility to measure hybridisation momentum-selectively, thereby enabling deep insights into the complicated interplay of bulk states, surface states, and molecular orbitals in the formation of the electronic interface structure at molecule-on-metal hybrid interfaces.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
When a molecule interacts chemically with a metal surface, the orbitals of the molecule hybridise with metal states to form the new eigenstates of the coupled system. Spatial overlap and energy matching are determining parameters of the hybridisation. However, since every molecular orbital does not only have a characteristic spatial shape, but also a specific momentum distribution, one may additionally expect a momentum matching condition; after all, each hybridising wave function of the metal has a defined wave vector, too. Here, we report photoemission orbital tomography measurements of hybrid orbitals that emerge from molecular orbitals at a molecule-on-metal interface. We find that in the hybrid orbitals only those partial waves of the original orbital survive which match the metal band structure. Moreover, we find that the conversion of the metal’s surface state into a hybrid interface state is also governed by momentum matching constraints. Our experiments demonstrate the possibility to measure hybridisation momentum-selectively, thereby enabling deep insights into the complicated interplay of bulk states, surface states, and molecular orbitals in the formation of the electronic interface structure at molecule-on-metal hybrid interfaces. |
| 6. | A. Haags, X. Yang, L. Egger, D. Brandstetter, H. Kirschner, F. C. Bocquet, G. Koller, A. Gottwald, M. Richter, J. M. Gottfried, M. G. Ramsey, P. Puschnig, S. Soubatch, F. S. Tautz Momentum-space imaging of σ-orbitals for chemical analysis Journal Article In: Sci. Adv., vol. 8, pp. eabn0819, 2022. @article{Haags2021,
title = {Momentum-space imaging of σ-orbitals for chemical analysis},
author = {A. Haags and X. Yang and L. Egger and D. Brandstetter and H. Kirschner and F. C. Bocquet and G. Koller and A. Gottwald and M. Richter and J. M. Gottfried and M. G. Ramsey and P. Puschnig and S. Soubatch and F. S. Tautz},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.abn0819},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Sci. Adv.},
volume = {8},
pages = {eabn0819},
abstract = {Tracing the modifications of molecules in surface chemical reactions benefits from the possibility to image their orbitals. While delocalized frontier orbitals with π character are imaged routinely with photoemission orbital tomography, they are not always sensitive to local chemical modifications, particularly the making and breaking of bonds at the molecular periphery. For such bonds, σ orbitals would be far more revealing. Here, we show that these orbitals can indeed be imaged in a remarkably broad energy range and that the plane wave approximation, an important ingredient of photoemission orbital tomography, is also well fulfilled for these orbitals. This makes photoemission orbital tomography a unique tool for the detailed analysis of surface chemical reactions. We demonstrate this by identifying the reaction product of a dehalogenation and cyclodehydrogenation reaction.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Tracing the modifications of molecules in surface chemical reactions benefits from the possibility to image their orbitals. While delocalized frontier orbitals with π character are imaged routinely with photoemission orbital tomography, they are not always sensitive to local chemical modifications, particularly the making and breaking of bonds at the molecular periphery. For such bonds, σ orbitals would be far more revealing. Here, we show that these orbitals can indeed be imaged in a remarkably broad energy range and that the plane wave approximation, an important ingredient of photoemission orbital tomography, is also well fulfilled for these orbitals. This makes photoemission orbital tomography a unique tool for the detailed analysis of surface chemical reactions. We demonstrate this by identifying the reaction product of a dehalogenation and cyclodehydrogenation reaction. |
| 5. | P. Hurdax, C. S. Kern, T. G. Boné, A. Haags, M. Hollerer, L. Egger, X. Yang, H. Kirschner, A. Gottwald, M. Richter, F. C. Bocquet, S. Soubatch, G. Koller, F. S. Tautz, M. Sterrer, P. Puschnig, M. G. Ramsey Large Distortion of Fused Aromatics on Dielectric Interlayers Quantified by Photoemission Orbital Tomography Journal Article In: ACS Nano, vol. 16, pp. 17435-17443, 2022. @article{Hurdax2022,
title = {Large Distortion of Fused Aromatics on Dielectric Interlayers Quantified by Photoemission Orbital Tomography},
author = {P. Hurdax and C. S. Kern and T. G. Boné and A. Haags and M. Hollerer and L. Egger and X. Yang and H. Kirschner and A. Gottwald and M. Richter and F. C. Bocquet and S. Soubatch and G. Koller and F. S. Tautz and M. Sterrer and P. Puschnig and M. G. Ramsey},
doi = {10.1021/acsnano.2c08631},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {ACS Nano},
volume = {16},
pages = {17435-17443},
abstract = {Polycyclic aromatic compounds with fused benzene rings offer an extraordinary versatility as next-generation organic semiconducting materials for nanoelectronics and optoelectronics due to their tunable characteristics, including charge-carrier mobility and optical absorption. Nonplanarity can be an additional parameter to customize their electronic and optical properties without changing the aromatic core. In this work, we report a combined experimental and theoretical study in which we directly observe large, geometry-induced modifications in the frontier orbitals of a prototypical dye molecule when adsorbed on an atomically thin dielectric interlayer on a metallic substrate. Experimentally, we employ angle-resolved photoemission experiments, interpreted in the framework of the photoemission orbital tomography technique. We demonstrate its sensitivity to detect geometrical bends in adsorbed molecules and highlight the role of the photon energy used in experiment for detecting such geometrical distortions. Theoretically, we conduct density functional calculations to determine the geometric and electronic structure of the adsorbed molecule and simulate the photoemission angular distribution patterns. While we found an overall good agreement between experimental and theoretical data, our results also unveil limitations in current van der Waals corrected density functional approaches for such organic/dielectric interfaces. Hence, photoemission orbital tomography provides a vital experimental benchmark for such systems. By comparison with the state of the same molecule on a metallic substrate, we also offer an explanation why the adsorption on the dielectric induces such large bends in the molecule.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Polycyclic aromatic compounds with fused benzene rings offer an extraordinary versatility as next-generation organic semiconducting materials for nanoelectronics and optoelectronics due to their tunable characteristics, including charge-carrier mobility and optical absorption. Nonplanarity can be an additional parameter to customize their electronic and optical properties without changing the aromatic core. In this work, we report a combined experimental and theoretical study in which we directly observe large, geometry-induced modifications in the frontier orbitals of a prototypical dye molecule when adsorbed on an atomically thin dielectric interlayer on a metallic substrate. Experimentally, we employ angle-resolved photoemission experiments, interpreted in the framework of the photoemission orbital tomography technique. We demonstrate its sensitivity to detect geometrical bends in adsorbed molecules and highlight the role of the photon energy used in experiment for detecting such geometrical distortions. Theoretically, we conduct density functional calculations to determine the geometric and electronic structure of the adsorbed molecule and simulate the photoemission angular distribution patterns. While we found an overall good agreement between experimental and theoretical data, our results also unveil limitations in current van der Waals corrected density functional approaches for such organic/dielectric interfaces. Hence, photoemission orbital tomography provides a vital experimental benchmark for such systems. By comparison with the state of the same molecule on a metallic substrate, we also offer an explanation why the adsorption on the dielectric induces such large bends in the molecule. |
2021
|
| 4. | R. Wallauer, M. Raths, K. Stallberg, L. Münster, D. Brandstetter, X. Yang, J. Güdde, P. Puschnig, S. Soubatch, C. Kumpf, F. C. Bocquet, F. S. Tautz, U. Höfer Tracing orbital images on ultrafast time scales Journal Article In: Science, vol. 371, pp. 1056-1059, 2021. @article{Wallauer2020,
title = {Tracing orbital images on ultrafast time scales},
author = {R. Wallauer and M. Raths and K. Stallberg and L. Münster and D. Brandstetter and X. Yang and J. Güdde and P. Puschnig and S. Soubatch and C. Kumpf and F. C. Bocquet and F. S. Tautz and U. Höfer},
doi = {10.1126/science.abf3286},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Science},
volume = {371},
pages = {1056-1059},
abstract = {Frontier orbitals determine fundamental molecular properties such as chemical reactivities. Although electron distributions of occupied orbitals can be imaged in momentum space by photoemission tomography, it has so far been impossible to follow the momentum-space dynamics of a molecular orbital in time, for example, through an excitation or a chemical reaction. Here, we combined time-resolved photoemission using high laser harmonics and a momentum microscope to establish a tomographic, femtosecond pump-probe experiment of unoccupied molecular orbitals. We measured the full momentum-space distribution of transiently excited electrons, connecting their excited-state dynamics to real-space excitation pathways. Because in molecules this distribution is closely linked to orbital shapes, our experiment may, in the future, offer the possibility of observing ultrafast electron motion in time and space.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Frontier orbitals determine fundamental molecular properties such as chemical reactivities. Although electron distributions of occupied orbitals can be imaged in momentum space by photoemission tomography, it has so far been impossible to follow the momentum-space dynamics of a molecular orbital in time, for example, through an excitation or a chemical reaction. Here, we combined time-resolved photoemission using high laser harmonics and a momentum microscope to establish a tomographic, femtosecond pump-probe experiment of unoccupied molecular orbitals. We measured the full momentum-space distribution of transiently excited electrons, connecting their excited-state dynamics to real-space excitation pathways. Because in molecules this distribution is closely linked to orbital shapes, our experiment may, in the future, offer the possibility of observing ultrafast electron motion in time and space. |
2015
|
| 3. | S. Weiß, D. Lüftner, T. Ules, E. M. Reinisch, H. Kaser, A. Gottwald, M. Richter, S. Soubatch, G. Koller, M. G. Ramsey, F. S. Tautz, P. Puschnig Exploring three-dimensional orbital imaging with energy-dependent photoemission tomography Journal Article In: Nat. Commun., vol. 6, pp. 8287, 2015. @article{Weiss2015,
title = {Exploring three-dimensional orbital imaging with energy-dependent photoemission tomography},
author = {S. Weiß and D. Lüftner and T. Ules and E. M. Reinisch and H. Kaser and A. Gottwald and M. Richter and S. Soubatch and G. Koller and M. G. Ramsey and F. S. Tautz and P. Puschnig},
doi = {10.1038/ncomms9287},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-01-01},
journal = {Nat. Commun.},
volume = {6},
pages = {8287},
abstract = {Recently, it has been shown that experimental data from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on oriented molecular films can be utilized to retrieve real-space images of molecular orbitals in two dimensions. Here, we extend this orbital tomography technique by performing photoemission initial state scans as a function of photon energy on the example of the brickwall monolayer of 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) on Ag(110). The overall dependence of the photocurrent on the photon energy can be well accounted for by assuming a plane wave for the final state. However, the experimental data, both for the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of PTCDA, exhibits an additional modulation attributed to final state scattering effects. Nevertheless, as these effects beyond a plane wave final state are comparably small, we are able, with extrapolations beyond the attainable photon energy range, to reconstruct three-dimensional images for both orbitals in agreement with calculations for the adsorbed molecule.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Recently, it has been shown that experimental data from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on oriented molecular films can be utilized to retrieve real-space images of molecular orbitals in two dimensions. Here, we extend this orbital tomography technique by performing photoemission initial state scans as a function of photon energy on the example of the brickwall monolayer of 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) on Ag(110). The overall dependence of the photocurrent on the photon energy can be well accounted for by assuming a plane wave for the final state. However, the experimental data, both for the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of PTCDA, exhibits an additional modulation attributed to final state scattering effects. Nevertheless, as these effects beyond a plane wave final state are comparably small, we are able, with extrapolations beyond the attainable photon energy range, to reconstruct three-dimensional images for both orbitals in agreement with calculations for the adsorbed molecule. |
2014
|
| 2. | D. Lüftner, T. Ules, E. M. Reinisch, G. Koller, S. Soubatch, F. S. Tautz, M. G. Ramsey, P. Puschnig Imaging the wave functions of adsorbed molecules Journal Article In: PNAS, vol. 111, no. 2, pp. 605-610, 2014. @article{Lueftner2014,
title = {Imaging the wave functions of adsorbed molecules},
author = {D. Lüftner and T. Ules and E. M. Reinisch and G. Koller and S. Soubatch and F. S. Tautz and M. G. Ramsey and P. Puschnig},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.1315716110},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-01-01},
journal = {PNAS},
volume = {111},
number = {2},
pages = {605-610},
abstract = {The basis for a quantum-mechanical description of matter is electron wave functions. For atoms and molecules, their spatial distributions and phases are known as orbitals. Although orbitals are very powerful concepts, experimentally only the electron densities and -energy levels are directly observable. Regardless whether orbitals are observed in real space with scanning probe experiments, or in reciprocal space by photoemission, the phase information of the orbital is lost. Here, we show that the experimental momentum maps of angle-resolved photoemission from molecular orbitals can be transformed to real-space orbitals via an iterative procedure which also retrieves the lost phase information. This is demonstrated with images obtained of a number of orbitals of the molecules pentacene (C22H14) and perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (C24H8O6), adsorbed on silver, which are in excellent agreement with ab initio calculations. The procedure requires no a priori knowledge of the orbitals and is shown to be simple and robust.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The basis for a quantum-mechanical description of matter is electron wave functions. For atoms and molecules, their spatial distributions and phases are known as orbitals. Although orbitals are very powerful concepts, experimentally only the electron densities and -energy levels are directly observable. Regardless whether orbitals are observed in real space with scanning probe experiments, or in reciprocal space by photoemission, the phase information of the orbital is lost. Here, we show that the experimental momentum maps of angle-resolved photoemission from molecular orbitals can be transformed to real-space orbitals via an iterative procedure which also retrieves the lost phase information. This is demonstrated with images obtained of a number of orbitals of the molecules pentacene (C22H14) and perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (C24H8O6), adsorbed on silver, which are in excellent agreement with ab initio calculations. The procedure requires no a priori knowledge of the orbitals and is shown to be simple and robust. |
2011
|
| 1. | P. Puschnig, E. M. Reinisch, T. Ules, G. Koller, S. Soubatch, M. Ostler, L. Romaner, F. S. Tautz, C. Ambrosch-Draxl, M. G. Ramsey Orbital tomography: Deconvoluting photoemission spectra of organic molecules Journal Article In: Phys. Rev. B, vol. 84, pp. 235427, 2011. @article{Puschnig2011,
title = {Orbital tomography: Deconvoluting photoemission spectra of organic molecules},
author = {P. Puschnig and E. M. Reinisch and T. Ules and G. Koller and S. Soubatch and M. Ostler and L. Romaner and F. S. Tautz and C. Ambrosch-Draxl and M. G. Ramsey},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.84.235427},
year = {2011},
date = {2011-12-01},
urldate = {2011-12-01},
journal = {Phys. Rev. B},
volume = {84},
pages = {235427},
publisher = {American Physical Society},
abstract = {We study the interface of an organic monolayer with a metallic surface, i.e., PTCDA (3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride) on Ag(110), by means of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and ab initio electronic structure calculations. We present a tomographic method that uses the energy and momentum dependence of ARPES data to deconvolute spectra into individual orbital contributions beyond the limits of energy resolution. This provides an orbital-by-orbital characterization of large adsorbate systems without the need to invoke a sophisticated theory of photoemission, allowing us to directly estimate the effects of bonding on individual orbitals. Moreover, these experimental data serve as a most stringent test necessary for the further development of ab initio electronic structure theory.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We study the interface of an organic monolayer with a metallic surface, i.e., PTCDA (3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride) on Ag(110), by means of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and ab initio electronic structure calculations. We present a tomographic method that uses the energy and momentum dependence of ARPES data to deconvolute spectra into individual orbital contributions beyond the limits of energy resolution. This provides an orbital-by-orbital characterization of large adsorbate systems without the need to invoke a sophisticated theory of photoemission, allowing us to directly estimate the effects of bonding on individual orbitals. Moreover, these experimental data serve as a most stringent test necessary for the further development of ab initio electronic structure theory. |