Nothing moves a surface: vacancy mediated surface diffusion |
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Authors: | van Gastel R Somfai E van Albada S B van Saarloos W Frenken J W |
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Institution: | Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Universiteit Leiden, The Netherlands. |
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Abstract: | We report scanning tunneling microscopy observations, which imply that all atoms in a Cu(001) surface move frequently, even at room temperature. Using a low density of embedded indium "tracer" atoms, we visualize the diffusive motion of surface atoms. Surprisingly, the indium atoms seem to make concerted, long jumps. Responsible for this motion is an ultralow density of surface vacancies, diffusing rapidly within the surface. This interpretation is supported by a detailed analysis of the displacement distribution of the indium atoms, which reveals a shape characteristic for the vacancy mediated diffusion mechanism that we propose. |
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