Electrons at the surface of quantum systems

Abstract

Electrons can be trapped at the surfaces and interfaces of the condensed phases of quantum matter (in particular hydrogen and helium), where they form classical two-dimensional Coulomb systems. Apart from studying the intrinsic properties of these nearly ideal systems, like the transition from an electron gas to a Wigner solid, one can use the electrons also as a sensitive probe to investigate the surface of quantum liquids and solids. The examples presented here include the surface of solid H2, He fiims, and the interface between liquid and solid He, where phenomena such as annealing, layering, and crystal growth are studied. In addition, the interaction between the electrons and longwavelength interracial modes leads to an electrohydrodynamic instability, which bears interesting similarities with other critical phenomena.