Randy L. Headrick

Real-Time X-Ray Scattering Study of Surface Dynamics on Au(111) During Ar+ Ion Irradiation

X-ray scattering is used to investigate the surface dynamics on Au(111) during Ar + ion irradiation. During 500 eV Ar + ion irradiation, we observe the three regimes of step retraction, quasi-layer-by-layer removal and three dimensional rough erosion, analagous to molecular beam epitaxy. The quasi-layer-by-layer sputtering regime has been studied to identify similarities and differences in surface evolution during ion irradiation and molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray measurements suggest that 500 eV Ar + ion irradiation does not lead to stable adatom island formation. Also, in contrast to molecular beam epitaxy, adatom detachment and diffusion seems important in describing the surface kinetics during ion irradiation.