C. Carbone Istituto di Struttura della Materia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Trieste
Very thin metal films find a wide range of applications in today nanotechnologies. Progresses in film growth make available layer materials approaching an ideal two-dimensional character, with sharp interfaces and atomically uniform thicknesses. In line with simple quantum mechanics, finite size effects give rise to series of discrete electronic levels, which finely tune the chemical reactivity, superconducting temperature, and magnetic properties. A deeper understanding and control of the film properties often calls for a close description of electron interactions at the film boundaries. Selected studies by photoelectron spectroscopy will illustrate various cases of interplay between interface, surface, and quantum confinement effects of different nature and complexity. In particular, the role of exchange and Rashba effects, and of their mutual influence when acting on a comparable energy scale, will be discussed together with implications for the film physical and functional properties.