Self-energy of image states on copper surfaces

We report extensive calculations of the imaginary part of the electron self-energy in the vicinity of the (100) and (111) surfaces of Cu. The quasiparticle self-energy is computed by going beyond a free-electron description of the metal surface, either within the GW approximation of many-body theory or with inclusion, within the GWΓ approximation, of short-range exchange-correlation effects. Calculations of the decay rate of the first three image states on Cu(100) and the first image state on Cu(111) are also reported, and the impact of both band structure and many-body effects on the electron relaxation process is discussed.The authors gratefully acknowledge partial support by the University of the Basque Country, the Basque Hezkuntza, Unibertsitate eta Ikerketa Saila, the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Cultura, and Iberdrola S. A.Peer reviewe