Bürgi L Brune H Kern K 2002 The Hohenberg-Kohn theorem states that the ground state electron density completely determines the external potential acting on an electron system. Inspired by this fundamental theorem, we developed a novel approach to map directly the electron potential in surface systems: linear response theory applied to the total electron density as measured with scanning tunneling microscopy determines the external potential. Potential imaging is demonstrated for the s-p derived surface state on Au(111), where the "herringbone" reconstruction induces a periodic potential modulation, the details of which are revealed by our technique. application/pdf https://sonar.ch/global/documents/77963 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.176801 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/12398693 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Physical review letters. - 2002 Imaging of electron potential landscapes on Au(111). http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501