Institut für Grenzflächenforschung und Vakuumphysik, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Postfach 1913, D-5170, Jülich, Fed. Rep. of Germany
Abstract:
The morphology of a Au(111) surface has been observed with the STM (scanning tunneling microscope) after ion bombardment with 2.5 keV Ne+ ions at about 400 K. Mostly triangular and hexagonal shaped vacancy islands are seen in the STM topographs. They are bounded by monatomic steps, oriented along the closed packed 110 directions. The general morphology confirms the conclusions inferred from TEAS (thermal energy atom scattering) measurements on ion bombarded Pt(111) surfaces. The observation of a propensity for the formation of {100} microfacetted 110 ledges is discussed.