Observation of a Metastable Periodic Structure for the (001) Surface of KTaO3 after Cleaving in Situ
Abstract
Helium atom diffraction experiments carried out under ultra high vacuum conditions on a freshly cleaved (001) surface of KTaO3 reveal metastable features which decay over a period of several hours. The initial diffraction pattern contains large He scattering intensity satellite peaks flanking the specular reflection beam. As time from cleaving elapses, the satellite intensities diminish to virtually zero while the specular intensity increases, and the diffraction pattern evolves into one consistent with the (1× 1) bulk termination surface. The data are compared with model calculations for scattering from a series of terraces at two heights with a distribution of terrace lengths (Surf. Sci. 384 15 (1997)). The agreement is remarkably good considering the simple treatment of the surface in the model, and the approach appears to lend itself naturally to dealing with the transient surface features.
- Publication:
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APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- March 2001
- Bibcode:
- 2001APS..MARG12007T