Step-Induced Optical Anisotropy of Vicinal Si(001)

Abstract

It is demonstrated, using reflectance difference spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and low-energy electron diffraction, combined with deliberate straining of the surface, that the presence of atomic steps dramatically changes the optical anisotropy of the Si(001) surface. The step-induced reflectance difference signal originates predominately from rebonded steps and is comparable in magnitude to that of the terrace signal.