Core-level photoelectron study of indium chains on Si(111) at 10 K

High-resolution core-level data from the prototypical In/Si(1 1 1) system have been acquired at 10 K. An asymmetric tail in the In 4d spectra reveals a metallic character of the low temperature Si(1 1 1)8 × 2 phase confined to the inner indium rows. The decoupling of the one-dimensional inner indium chains from any metallic environment at not, vert, similar10 K suggests a possible Luttinger liquid behavior. At room temperature essentially a broadening of the spectral features is noticed, which appears compatible with a fluctuation scenario.