Spectroscopic Studies of Crystalline Neon Film Grown on a Gold Surface

Crystalline neon film was condensed on a gold surface and reflected electron energy-loss spectra (REELS) was measured at the temperature of 5 K. Also face-centered-cubic (FCC) Ne was investigated theoretically using density-functional theory (DFT), GW approximation, random-phase approximation (RPA) and the Bethe–Salpeter equation (BSE). REELS was calculated in the independent particles level, and including many-body perturbation effects – appearance of the electron-hole pairs (e–h), local-field dielectric screening and excitons. Calculated electronic bandgap is 21.5 eV. Analyzing obtained theoretical and experimental REELS we conclude that first excitonic peak appears at 17.8 eV and all the peaks up to 21.5 eV are purely excitonic. Solid neon film, being a wide-gap dielectric, considered as promising material for implanting Th and studying its low-lying nuclear transition at 8.2 eV.