Layer growth of xenon on graphite

A new apparatus is described which allows transmission electron microscope observations to be made of the growth of condensed gas films on clean surfaces at low temperatures. Observations on the mode of growth of xenon growing on a graphite (0001) surface are reported. It is shown that, once the surface is cleaned by heating, layer-by-layer growth is observed. The observation of island growth of rare gas crystals on graphite in previous experiments is shown to have been caused by surface contamination.