Direct imaging of the InSb(001)-c(8×2) surface and its dynamical structural change
Abstract
The structure of the InSb(001)-c(8×2) surface has been a center of controversy. We directly observed the c(8×2) surface by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy in the profile-imaging geometry (HR-profile TEM) at room temperature and 693K. The HR-profile TEM images revealed that (i) dimers are located in the third layer and (ii) indium atom rows with a sub-unity occupancy are placed in both the first and second layers along the [110] direction. Multi-slice image simulation for several proposed c(8×2) models was made. We obtained a good agreement between the simulated images based on the model in ref. [1] and our HR-profile TEM images. Moreover, 1/30-sec real-time HR-profile TEM observations at 693K evidence that the reversible structural changes of the c(8×2) surface occur: The third-layer dimers and their on-top region (part of the first and second layers) turn into/back from the bulk lattice, without dissociating antimony even at the high temperature of 693K. [1] C. Kumpf et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 3586 (2001). *Present affiliation: University of Oklahoma
- Publication:
-
APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- March 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003APS..MARH33011N