Resonant Phonon Scattering and Kapitza Conductance Induced by H2O Molecules on Clean Surfaces

We have used phonon surface scattering spectroscopy to study adsorbed water layers in the mońolayer region on clean surfaces. We find a strong resonance at phonon energies of ≈ 1 meV. The position of the resonance decreases with increasing coverage. We suggest that a low lying mode of lateral vibration of the adlayer is excited.