Controlled modification of individual adsorbate electronic structure

Modification of the electronic structure of a single Mn adsorbate placed within a geometrical array of adatoms on Ag(111) is observed using local spectroscopy with the scanning tunneling microscope. The changes result from coupling between the adsorbate level and surface electronic states of the substrate. These surface states are scattered coherently within the adatom array, mediating the presence and shape of the array to the adsorbate within. The dimension and geometry of the adatom array thus provide a degree of control over the induced changes.