Reflection high-energy electron diffraction, RHEED

Abstract

A crystal surface (or interface with foreign substances) is generally known to have an atomic arrangement different from that of an internal crystal structure. The properties of substances depend more largely on the arrangement (or crystal structure) of constituent elements than on constituent elements per se. The recent high-degree integration of electronic devices has greatly increased the importance of knowing the exact crystal structures of surfaces and interfaces or controlling them into desired structures. Additionally, nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes can be considered as substances consisting entirely of surfaces, thus showing the close relationship between nanotechnology and surface science. This experiment is intended to investigate the surface structures of a crystal (Si(111) surface) placed in an ultrahigh vacuum using reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). Also to be studied are the structures of the crystal surfaces with other substances (Ag/Au) deposited on it.