{

Trimer is the smallest cluster that can have a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional structure on fee (111) surface. Using first-principles density-functional-theory calculations, the structural and dynamical properties of Al trimer on Al(111) surface have been studied in detail. Al trimer on Al(111) surface has four close-packed (compact) triangular configurations, two linear configurations, and some other noncompact triangular configurations. The close-packed triangular trimers are more stable than the noncompact triangular trimers as well as the linear trimers. For the dynamics of Al trimer on Al(111) surface, the diffusion processes are much more complicated than the adatom and dimer diffusions. There are three different kinds of diffusion mechanisms: concerted translations and rotation of compact triangular trimers (the energy barrier

We have observed simple oscillations in three-dimensional (3D) patterns of electron thermal diffuse scattering (separated from electron-electron energy loss) measured on a Si(001) surface. We interpret these oscillations as coherent interference within a small cluster of atoms in which vibrational correlation within the nearest neighbors (NN) is dominant. A 3D Patterson function analysis of the oscillation reveals the atomic structure of the Si(001) surface consisting of NN pairs including dimers. This finding provides a promising new clue to determine the structures of bulk and the surface of solids.

The adatoms, dimers and rest atoms in the three outermost atomic layers of the Si(111)-(7 x 7) surface are directly imaged with glancing Kikuchi electron holography. The applicability of Kikuchi electron holography to complicated multiple-emitter surfaces is evident. The three-dimensional relative positions of atoms on the Si(111)-(7 x 7) surface are in good accordance with the LEED-optimized DAS model.

More than 50 symmetry-inequivalent emitter-scatterer (E-S) pairs were observed for the Si(111)-(7 x 7) surface using Kikchi electron holography (KEH) with various incident/detection configurations. For different configurations, the E-S pairs in the backscattering direction are preferentially enhanced. Thus, one can obtain detailed structural information by changing the incident/detection direction, which will be helpful in sorting out the correct surface structure model.

n/a

Atomic structures of the reconstructed Si(113) surfaces were studied by using Kikuchi electron holography (KEH). Three-dimensional images show clearly the characteristics of the puckering model for both Si(113)(3x2) and (3x1) surfaces. The KEH results support the puckering model. Based on bur studies, the tetramers are puckering alternatively in the (3x2) surface. Whereas in (3X1) structures, there are two domains, within each of them, tetramers buckled uniformly, but the overall directions are opposite. When doped with H atoms on a (3x2) surface, the asymmetric tetramers change into symmetric form. [S0163-1829(99)51116-8].

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a