The influence of conduction band plasmons on core-level photoemission spectra of InN

The core-level lineshape in photoemission spectra of InN is studied by high-resolution X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The In 3d and N 1s core-levels are asymmetric, displaying a high binding energy tail which is attributed to inelastic losses to and/or screening by conduction band plasmons in the accumulation layer present at InN surfaces. The extent of the asymmetric tail decreases with decreasing surface Fermi level position associated with a lower density of electrons in the accumulation layer.