Alternating Layer and Island Growth of Pb on Si by Spontaneous Quantum Phase Separation

Hawoong Hong, C.-M. Wei, M. Y. Chou, Z. Wu, L. Basile, H. Chen, M. Holt, and T.-C. Chiang

Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 076104 – Published 20 February 2003

Abstract

Real-time in situ x-ray studies of continuous Pb deposition on $S i (111) − (7 \times 7)$ at 180 K reveal an unusual growth behavior. A wetting layer forms first to cover the entire surface. Then islands of a fairly uniform height of about five monolayers form on top of the wetting layer and grow to fill the surface. The growth then switches to a layer-by-layer mode upon further deposition. This behavior of alternating layer and island growth can be attributed to spontaneous quantum phase separation based on a first-principles calculation of the system energy.

Received 2 August 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.076104

Authors & Affiliations

Hawoong Hong¹, C.-M. Wei^2,3, M. Y. Chou³, Z. Wu^1,4, L. Basile^1,5, H. Chen⁶, M. Holt^1,5, and T.-C. Chiang^1,5

¹Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 104 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801-2902
²Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan 11529, Republic of China
³School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0430
⁴Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801-2980
⁵Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1110 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801-3080
⁶Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, People’s Republic of China

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Issue

Vol. 90, Iss. 7 — 21 February 2003

Reuse & Permissions

Access Options

Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Physical Review Letters