Surface structure autocorrelation functions and their Fourier transforms for rough deposits of magnesium

Abstract

Autocorrelation functions for rough surfaces of evaporated opaque magnesium deposits are determined from electron microphotographs of the shadowed surface carbon replicas. These microphotographs are analyzed using a processing-data-system microdensitometer. It is shown that autocorrelation functions do not have always a Gaussian form, as is frequently assumed. The rms roughness height $\delta$ and the autocorrelation length $\sigma$ are deduced for each deposit. There is a linear relation between $\delta$ and $\sigma$.