Optical second harmonic generation in metal monolayers and metal surfaces

Information about the structure of foreign metal monolayers can be obtained through measurements of the polarization dependence of optical second harmonic generation. We have used this phenomenon to monitor electrochemically controlled deposition of hexagonal metals on the (111) face of Ag. In the process, we have learned more about resonant second harmonic effects involving intrinsic excitations of the monolayer as well as surface influence within the Ag substrate.