Tip-induced local reconstruction on the Pb/Ge(111) surface using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy

We perform the local structure change on Pb/Ge(111) by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). The positions of the Pb and Ge adatoms embedded in the plane of the Pb/Ge(111)-c(2 x 8) surface system are interchanged using the AFM tip. We collect the Pb adatoms into a local area to induce the local structure change to a (2 x 2) periodic structure. Then, in the same manner, we change the local (2 x 2) phase back to the original c(2 x 8) structure.