Imaging Electronic Interference Effects in Ultrathin Epitaxial Graphite

ORAL

Abstract

We have used scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy at 4K to investigate local fluctuations in the electronic structure of ultrathin epitaxial graphite grown on SiC. Spectroscopic maps of the density of states for two- and three-layer films reveal spatial modulations that fluctuate with energy. These maps show short range root three by root three ordering reminiscent of Bloch wave interference observed in finite carbon nanotube segments [1]. Additional long range fluctuations have a characteristic length scale that may be related to the underlying structure of the SiC interface.\newline [1] S. G. Lemay et al., Nature 412, 617 (2001).

*This work is supported in part by the Office of Naval Research and NSF.

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Authors

  • Jason Crain

    • Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
    • Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8412, USA
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology

  • Gregory Rutter

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332

  • Joseph Stroscio

    • Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8412, USA
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology

  • Tianbo Li

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
    • Georgia Institute of Technology

  • Phillip First

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
    • Georgia Institute of Technology