Formation of aluminum island films under electron irradiation of a sapphire surface

The present paper is devoted to experimental investigation of electron-stimulated desorption from a single-crystal sapphire surface. Using Auger electron spectroscopy metallization of the sapphire surface, the character of which is dependent on the electron beam parameters, is observed under low-energy electron bombardment,. Using atomic-force microscopy, images of metal island films with a diameter of 50?C100 nm are obtained.