Stability and Dynamic of strain mediated Adatom Superlattices on Cu<111>

Abstract

Substrate strain mediated adatom density distributions have been calculated for Cu<111> surfaces. Complemented by Monte Carlo calculations a hexagonal close packaged adatom superlattice in a coverage range up to 0.045 ML is derived. Conditions for the stability of the superlattice against nucleation and degradation are analyzed using simple neighborhood models. Such models are also used to investigate the dynamic of adatoms within their superlattice neighborhood. Collective modes of adatom diffusion are proposed from the analogy with bulk lattice dynamics and methods for measurement are suggested. The explanation of surface state mediated interactions for superstructures found in scanning tunnelling microscopy experiments is put in question.