EPITAXY MODIFICATIONS TO EVAPORATED fcc METALS INDUCED BY ELECTRON BOMBARDMENT OF ALKALI HALIDE SUBSTRATES

Abstract

Recent experiments concerned with the orientations of evaporated fcc metals on alkali halide cleavage surfaces have shown that low‐energy electron bombardment of the surfaces during deposition can modify the orientations. Specifically for the case of Au on NaCl or KCl, it is possible to produce deposits in the parallel orientation (epitaxy). Observations by LEED, Auger emission spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry suggests that the electron bombardment produces surface defects, probably Cl− vacancies. The nucleation of five‐atom clusters at such defects has been considered for various alkali halides, and the relevance to the general problem of epitaxy is discussed.