SQUARE-ROOT-3XSQUARE-ROOT-3-]6X6 PHASE-TRANSITION ON THE AU/SI(111) SURFACE

The transition between the S3 × S3 and 6×6 reconstructions of the Au/Si(111) surface is unusual in that, as the Au coverage increases, there is a continuous evolution of the surface structure with Au coverage, rather than a simple change in the relative abundances of two distinct, well-ordered phases. Scanning-tunneling-microscope images show that the S3 × S3 structure is broken up into sub-100- domains that decrease in size with increasing Au coverage. The 6×6 phase can be described as a periodic arrangement of small S3 × S3 domains. © 1990 The American Physical Society.