Adatom Formation on the Ni(110) Surface

Abstract

From a simple analysis of the temperature dependence of the diffuse elastic peak obtained from inelastic helium scattering measurements, the energetic barrier for adatom formation was determined to be $645\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}26\mathrm{meV}$ for the Ni(110) surface. Molecular statics calculations using the embedded atom method yield 680--770 meV for detachment from ${001}$-faceted steps. Measurements for two different step densities give the same barrier. Additional MD simulations indicate that (i) below 650 K no adatoms are created, (ii) between 650 and 900 K adatoms are extracted from step edges, and (iii) above 1000 K adatoms are generated by jumping out of the terraces.