Electronic excited states at a bcc(110) lithium surface, both bare and covered by ionic ultrathin (1–2 monolayers) LiF epitaxial films, are investigated via many-body perturbation theory calculations achieving an atomistic level of detail. The full self-consistent solution of the GW equations is used to account for correlation effects and to properly describe the screened potential in the vacuum. In addition to the correct prediction of image-potential states, we find that the mixing between resonances and image states and the charge compression due to the dielectric ultrathin overlayer give rise to excitations with a hybrid localized but low-lying character whose accurate description cannot intrinsically be achieved via simple models or low-level calculations, but which are expected to play a crucial role in determining the electronic response and transport properties of these systems.

• Received 10 April 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.88.125413