Misoriented surfaces with randomly distributed steps

Models for surfaces with randomly distributed steps having a peferred direction, i.e., an unequal probability of encountering an up or down step when going from one lattice site to the adjacent one, are constructed. The terrace widths obey a geometric distribution function. A closed-form solution is obtained for the angular distribution of the electron diffraction beam intensity. We show that both the angular width of the diffracted beam and the Bragg peak position oscillate as a function of the incident electron energy. Practical implications of these results are discussed.