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Brownian Motion of 2D Vacancy Islands by Adatom Terrace Diffusion

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters

We have studied the Brownian motion of two-dimensional (2D) vacancy islands on Ag(110) at temperatures between 175 and 215K. While the detachment of adatoms from the island and their diffusion on the terrace are permitted in this temperature range, the periphery diffusion of single adatoms is prohibited. The present scanning tunneling microscopy results provide the first direct experimental proof that the Brownian motion of the islands follows a simple scaling law with terrace diffusion being the rate limiting process. The activation energy of the vacancy island motion is determined to 0.41eV.

Sponsoring Organization:
(US)
OSTI ID:
40204680
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 25 Vol. 86; ISSN 0031-9007
Publisher:
The American Physical Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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