Real-Time Observation of the Dynamics of Single Pb Atoms on<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>Si</mml:mi><mml:mo>(</mml:mo><mml:mn>111</mml:mn><mml:mo>)</mml:mo><mml:mo>−</mml:mo><mml:mo>(</mml:mo><mml:mn>7</mml:mn><mml:mo>×</mml:mo><mml:mn>7</mml:mn><mml:mo>)</mml:mo></mml:math>by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

1996 Physical Review Letters 133 citations

Abstract

The very early stages of Pb deposition on $\mathrm{Si}(111)\ensuremath{-}(7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7)$ surfaces have been investigated in real time by scanning tunneling microscopy. The combination of variable temperature scanning with unusual very long periods of imaging time have enabled us to observe that single Pb atoms are highly mobile within each half $(7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7)$ unit cell. Individual jumps of single atoms between different half cells have been resolved as well as the formation of atom pairs as a result. An activation energy of $0.64\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07\mathrm{eV}$ has been measured for the diffusion of single atoms between different half cells.

Keywords

Atom (system on chip)Scanning tunneling microscopePhysicsDiffusionEnergy (signal processing)CrystallographyMaterials scienceAtomic physicsAnalytical Chemistry (journal)Condensed matter physicsChemistryThermodynamicsComputer scienceQuantum mechanics

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Publication Info

Year
1996
Type
article
Volume
76
Issue
5
Pages
799-802
Citations
133
Access
Closed

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José M. Gómez‐Rodríguez, J. J. Sáenz, A. M. Baró et al. (1996). Real-Time Observation of the Dynamics of Single Pb Atoms on<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>Si</mml:mi><mml:mo>(</mml:mo><mml:mn>111</mml:mn><mml:mo>)</mml:mo><mml:mo>−</mml:mo><mml:mo>(</mml:mo><mml:mn>7</mml:mn><mml:mo>×</mml:mo><mml:mn>7</mml:mn><mml:mo>)</mml:mo></mml:math>by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. Physical Review Letters , 76 (5) , 799-802. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.76.799

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DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.76.799