Nonclassical Smoothening of Nanoscale Surface Corrugations
We report the first experimental observation of nonclassical morphological equilibration of a corrugated crystalline surface. Periodic rippled structures with wavelengths of 290-550 nm were made on Si(001) by sputter rippling and then annealed at 650-750 degree sign C . In contrast to the classical exponential decay with time, the ripple amplitude A{sub {lambda}}(t) followed an inverse linear decay, A{sub {lambda}}(t)=A{sub {lambda}}( 0)/(1+k{sub {lambda}}t) , agreeing with a prediction of Ozdemir and Zangwill. We measure the activation energy for surface relaxation to be 1.6{+-}0.2 eV , consistent with the fundamental energies of creation and migration on Si(001). (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
- OSTI ID:
- 20216896
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review Letters, Vol. 84, Issue 25; Other Information: PBD: 19 Jun 2000; ISSN 0031-9007
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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