SURFACE-STRUCTURE AND METAL EPITAXY - STM STUDIES OF ULTRATHIN METAL-FILMS ON AU(111) AND CU(100)

The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is an important tool for studying the growth of ultrathin metal structures. The behavior of atoms arriving at the surface determines nanometer-scale structure that is readily measured with the STM. These structural features are important in determining magnetic properties. The variety of structural possibilities is illustrated with the difference between substrate-controlled island nucleation of Ni on Au(111) and diffusion-controlled aggregation of Ag on Au(111). The STM also provides a fairly complete picture of the intermixing that occurs in the early stages of room-temperature growth of Fe on Cu(100).