Condensation of high-energy atomic beams

Abstract

This paper presents the results of measurements of the growth of gold on rocksalt when the incident atoms, obtained by sputtering ejection, have energies of approximately 20 ev atom^-1. The results are compared with those obtained using thermal evaporation sources, when the incident atoms have energies of the order of 03 ev atom^-1. The effect of the high arrival energy is manifested in an increased saturation island density (numbers of discrete groups of atoms per unit substrate area) and a change in the orientation of the deposit. The results are discussed in terms of incomplete thermal accommodation and production of atypical adsorption sites on the substrate.