Gold-induced reconstructions of the Si(001) surface: The 5×3 and √26 ×3 phases

Abstract

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and low-energy electron diffraction have been used to study surface reconstructions of Au on the Si(001) surface. A previously reported √26 ×3 superstructure diffraction pattern is shown to correspond to a mixture of 5×3 and √26 ×3 phases with the structure of these two phases being closely related. In both structures, the spacing of the surface atoms in the STM images shows a strong uniaxial compression of 17% with respect to the bulk 1×1 lattice spacing.