Normally, a metal surface should not support an isolated surface charge density. The relaxation / dissipation would essentially be instantaneous.
Can you explain when and how you think that a metal surface will have a surface charge that can be measured quantitatively?
Hi,
Metals can stand surface states in which an electron is attractively bound to the surface by its electrostatic image in the bulk of the metal. Inverse photo-emission spectroscopy is the way to measure these states.
For definition you could consult:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_states#Surface_states_in_metals
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_photoemission_spectroscopy
Following is a list of relevant publications in the field:
http://scholar.google.fr/scholar?hl=fr&as_sdt=0,5&q=surface+states
RKI instruments among many others proposes photo-emission instruments.
@C Hirlimann: Yes ... of image charges I am aware. The starting question made no such distinction. I am still curious whether this is what was meant or not.
Yes Jeffrey, I am not sure I answered the exact question. But it doesn't hurt other readers to know about surface states, right?
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