Self-organization on Au(111) vicinal surfaces and the role of surface stress
Résumé
Using scanning tunneling microscopy and low energy electron diffraction, we report on the long range spatial self-organization of four Au(lll) vicinal surfaces. It is shown that the atomic structure of steps strongly affects the long range ordered morphology: periods on surfaces misoriented towards the [2 (1) over bar (1) over bar] azimuthal direction are about 100 A; whereas quasi-periods are about 2000 Angstrom when surfaces are misoriented towards the opposite azimuth. The stable structures are explained in terms of stress relief induced at the facet edges. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.