Nothing moves a surface: vacancy mediated surface diffusion

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dc.creatorvan Gastel, R.
dc.creatorSomfai, E.
dc.creatorvan Albada, S. B.
dc.creatorvan Saarloos, W.
dc.creatorFrenken, J. W. M.
dc.date2000-09-28
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T02:38:51Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T02:38:51Z
dc.descriptionWe report scanning tunneling microscopy observations, which imply that all atoms in a close-packed copper surface move frequently, even at room temperature. Using a low density of embedded indium `tracer' atoms, we visualize the diffusive motion of surface atoms. Surprisingly, the indium atoms seem to make concerted, long jumps. Responsible for this motion is an ultra-low density of surface vacancies, diffusing rapidly within the surface. This interpretation is supported by a detailed analysis of the displacement distribution of the indium atoms, which reveals a shape characteristic for the vacancy mediated diffusion mechanism that we propose.
dc.description4 pages; for associated movie, see http://www-lion.leidenuniv.nl/sections/cm/groups/interface/projects/thermo
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0009436
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0009436
dc.identifierPhys. Rev. Lett. 86, 1562 (2001)
dc.identifierdoi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.1562
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/16837
dc.subjectMaterials Science
dc.subjectStatistical Mechanics
dc.titleNothing moves a surface: vacancy mediated surface diffusion
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