Dynamics Of High-Index Step Equilibrium Fluctuations As Observed By Scanning-Tunneling-Microscopy

Jc Girard , S Gauthier , S Rousset (1) , W Sacks , S Decheveigne , J Klein

1 LPA - Laboratoire Pierre Aigrain

We present experimental evidence for a dramatic influence on the aspect of tunneling images of the orientation relative to a [(1) over bar 10] direction of the steps on vicinal copper surfaces. A model is proposed which relates these observations to the mobility of geometrical kinks of the step edges. This model allows one to deduce from the experimental data the mean emission time of an adatom from a kink on a step oriented near the [(1) over bar 10] direction on Cu(100).

Domaines: Physique [physics]

Jc Girard, S Gauthier, S Rousset, W Sacks, S Decheveigne, et al.. Dynamics Of High-Index Step Equilibrium Fluctuations As Observed By Scanning-Tunneling-Microscopy. Surface Science : A Journal Devoted to the Physics and Chemistry of Interfaces, 1994, 301 (1-3), pp.245-252. ⟨hal-01987627⟩