Testing bulk models of icosahedral quasicrystals with STM images of clean surfaces

Zorka Papadopolos (1) , Oliver Groening (2) , Roland Widmer (3)

1 Insitut für Theoretische Physik [Tübingen]
2 Abt. 127
3 nanotech@surfaces

In the case of the icosahedral Al-Pd-Mn we compare the STM (scanning tunnelling microscopy) image of the real fivefold surface to the STM simulations on the candidates of the fivefold bulk terminations. We make the choice, which termination fits the best to the real image. Among other conclusions we get some hints important either for the chemistry of the bulk-model or for the eventual correction of the model of atomic positions itself. We work in the frame of the particular model of atomic positions, based on the diffraction data for Al$_{70}$Pd$_{21}$Mn$_{9}$ and Al$_{62}$Cu$_{25.5}$Fe$_{12.5}$. We also discuss the possibilities beyond this model.

Mots clés: Physical Sciences

Zorka Papadopolos, Oliver Groening, Roland Widmer. Testing bulk models of icosahedral quasicrystals with STM images of clean surfaces. Philosophical Magazine, 2008, 88 (13-15), pp.2083-2093. ⟨10.1080/14786430802286963⟩. ⟨hal-00513926⟩