Basic Theory of Surface States

The theory of surface states underlies present knowledge of the behaviour of electrons at solid surfaces, which is of importance in understanding the mechanisms by which solid-state devices operate and catalytic reactions proceed. Although the subject is viewed through the "theoretical eye" of a physicist, the topics in this text are treated in an elementary fashion, so that the contents should also appeal to both theoretical and experimental surface scientists from chemistry, materials science and electronic engineering. The main features of the presentation are a model-based approach, step-by-step derivations of all the equations and an historical theme, which traces the evolution of the subject from its funding by the Nobel Laureate Igor Tamm in 1932, through the invention of the transistor in 1947 by Shockley, Bardeen and Brattain, to recent developments.