Spontaneous formation of an ordered c(4x2)/(2x1) domain pattern on Ge(001)

Description

The reconstruction with the lowest surface free energy per unit area at room temperature of the semiconductor group IV (001) surfaces is generally believed to be (2x1). However, room temperature scanning tunneling microscopy measurements of extremely clean Ge(001) reveal the presence of an ordered domain pattern consisting of c(4x2) and (2x1) domains arranged in stripes with a width of several dimer row spacings, oriented along the dimer rows. We show that although (2x1) and c(4x2) have comparable surface free energies per unit area, an striped domain phase consisting of (2x1) and c(4x2) domains has a lower surface free energy per unit area.

Period	22 Mar 1999
Event title	DPG Frühjahrstagung 1999 Münster: (DPG Spring Meeting)
Event type	Conference
Organiser	Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
Location	Münster, GermanyShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International