Initial oxidation kinetics of copper (1 1 0) film investigated by in situ UHV-TEM

Previous studies of the initial stage of oxidation on clean single crystal of Cu(1 0 0) have been extended to the case of the Cu(1 1 0) surface. The dynamic observation of the nucleation and growth of Cu oxide by means of in situ ultra high vacuum transmission electron microscopy (UHV-TEM) shows a highly enhanced oxidation rate on Cu(1 1 0) surface as compared to Cu(1 0 0). The kinetic data on the nucleation and growth of the three-dimensional oxide islands agree well with our heteroepitaxial model of surface diffusion of oxygen.     

Unified Solution of the Expected Maximum of a Discrete Time Random Walk and the Discrete Flux to a Spherical Trap

Two random-walk related problems which have been studied independently in the past, the expected maximum of a random walker in one dimension and the flux to a spherical trap of particles undergoing discrete jumps in three dimensions, are shown to be closely related to each other and are studied using a unified approach as a solution to a Wiener-Hopf problem. For the flux problem, this work shows that a constant c = 0.29795219 which appeared in the context of the boundary extrapolation length, and was previously found only numerically, can be derived analytically. The same constant enters in higher-order corrections to the expected-maximum asymptotics. As a byproduct, we also prove a new universal result in the context of the flux problem which is an analogue of the Sparre Andersen theorem proved in the context of the random walker's maximum.     

The processes of ordering and formation of two-dimensional glasses at metal surfaces

Using the experimental results obtained for the Dy-Mo(1 1 2) system, we discuss the possibilities and mechanisms of formation of two-dimensional (2D) glasses on metal surfaces. It has been found that in the coverage range 0.07 < θ < 0.58, ordered Dy superstructures formed and observed at T < 400 K are irreversibly destroyed by annealing to higher temperatures and turn into an amorphous (glass) structure on cooling. It is supposed that this conversion is caused by the formation, at T > 400 K, of a Dy-Mo surface alloy in which the rate of Dy surface diffusion is strongly reduced in comparison with its value in the absence of alloying. As a result, the mobility of Dy adatoms becomes too low at the temperatures corresponding to the ordered equilibrium state of the surface, and this state cannot be achieved in reasonable relaxation time. This interpretation is corroborated by the experimental data on substantial suppression of surface diffusion in some coadsorbed layers. Since surface glasses contact with ordered (crystalline) substrates, their structure may have a peculiar character different from that of “conventional” metal glasses. Surface glasses can find a number of applications as rather stable systems that combine low dimensionality, specific electronic structure of their constituents and extremely high density of defects.     

Evidence for diffusion-limited kinetics during electromigration-induced step bunching on Si(1 1 1)

We have measured how the initial terrace width l₀ on vicinal Si(1 1 1) surfaces influences the rate of step bunching and the minimum terrace width within a bunch when direct-current heated at 940-1290 °C. A comparison of this data with analytic solutions and numerical simulations of the conventional “sharp-step” model give strong evidence that the kinetic length d is relatively small (d < ∼20 nm) in both temperature regime I (∼850-950 °C) and regime III (∼1200-1300 °C), in which step-down current is required for step bunching. This indicates that surface mass transport is diffusion-limited in both regimes I and III when l₀ > 20 nm, and hence that the adatom attachment- and terrace diffusion-hopping rates are of comparable magnitude. We also observe similar scaling with initial terrace width in temperature regime II (∼1040-1190 °C), in which step-up current is required for bunching, suggesting a similar step bunching mechanism in all three temperature regimes.     

Non-monotonous dependence of surface roughness on factors influencing energy of adatoms during thin island film growth

Many experimental results show that surface roughness of thin films can increase, decrease, stay constant or pass through the minimum with the change in substrate temperature, energy of arriving atoms or assisted beam (electrons, photons, ions), depending on material and interval of variation of those parameters. The aim of this paper is to explain and analyze this non-monotonous behavior of surface roughness by proposed kinetic model. The model is based on rate equations and includes processes of surface diffusion of adatoms, nucleation, growth and coalescence of islands in the case of thin films growth in Volmer-Weber mode. It is shown by modeling that non-monotonous dependence of surface roughness on the factors influencing energy of adatoms (e.g. temperature, assisted beam irradiation, accelerating voltage) occurs as a result of interplay between diffusion length of adatoms and size of islands, because both parameters depend on energy of adatoms. Variation of island size and diffusion length results in atomic jumps from islands forming rougher or smoother surface. The functions of surface roughness, island size, island density on diffusion length of adatoms and on other parameters are calculated and analyzed in this work.     

Dimension-Splitting for Simplifying Diffusion in Lattice-Gas Models

We introduce a simplified technique for incorporating diffusive phenomena into lattice-gas molecular dynamics models. In this method, spatial interactions take place one dimension at a time, with a separate fractional timestep devoted to each dimension, and with all dimensions treated identically. We show that the model resulting from this technique is equivalent to the macroscopic diffusion equation in the appropriate limit. This technique saves computational resources and reduces the complexity of model design, programming, debugging, simulation and analysis. For example, a reaction-diffusion simulation can be designed and tested as a one-dimensional system, and then directly extended to two or more dimensions. We illustrate the use of this approach in constructing a microscopically reversible model of diffusion-limited aggregation as well as in a model of growth of biological films.     

Co-Segregation Effects on Boundary Migration

We analyze the effect of co-segregation on the mobility of grain boundaries within the framework of the impurity drag theory originally proposed by Cahn and Lücke and Stüwe for an ideal solution. The new derivation extends this model to the case where there are two types of impurities (or three components in the alloy). Since the resultant expression for the boundary mobility is complicated, numerical solutions were obtained for several cases to show how co-segregation affects the boundary mobility. Depending on the relative diffusivities of the two impurities which are both attracted to the boundary, the mobility may either increase or decrease with increasing concentration of one of the impurities. When one of the impurities is attracted to the boundary and the other repelled from the boundary, increasing the concentration of the attractive impurity can lead to a sharp decrease in the boundary mobility.     

Atomic description of elementary surface processes: diffusion and dynamics

A large fraction of processes which are at the foundation of our technological society involve physical and chemical properties of surfaces. Catalytic reactions and semiconductor devices production are two of the most important ones.

This paper describes a sample of some of the most relevant surface science experiments which have been recently performed, in order to understand elementary surface processes of model catalytic reactions and in semiconductor technology at the atomic level. The focus is on experiments performed with scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy which have represented, in some cases, real breakthroughs in our understanding of these phenomena.

We then present an overview of possible experimental technique developments that can be foreseen for the future and that may give us a more in-depth understanding of the elementary processes which form the basis of important complex surface phenomena. Finally, some of the challenging tasks that lie ahead for surface scientists and the collateral opportunities are discussed.     

Cosmic dust and our origins

The small solid particles in the space between the stars provide the surfaces for the production of many simple and complex molecules. Processes involving the effects of ultraviolet irradiation of the thin (hundredth micron) mantles are shown to produce a wide range of molecules and ions also seen in comets. Some of the more complex ones inferred from laboratory experiments are expected to play an important role in the origin of life. An outline of the chemical evolution of interstellar dust as observed and as studied in the laboratory is presented. Observations of comets are shown to provide substantial evidence for their being fluffy aggregates of interstellar dust as it was in the protosolar nebula, i.e. the interstellar cloud which collapsed to form the solar system. The theory that comets may have brought the progenitors of life to the earth is summarized.     

小型录音室的建筑声学设计的讨论

本主要从小型语言录音室建筑结构出发，分析材料与声学规律的关系，从而建议设计实施经济合理、符合声学条件的小型录音室。