High-resolution low-energy electron diffraction study of Pb(110) surface roughening transition

Abstract

A clear Pb(110) surface roughening phase transition has been observed at ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{r}}$\ensuremath{\sim}415 K, which is \ensuremath{\sim}185 K below the bulk melting temperature, using the high-resolution low-energy electron diffraction technique. It is shown that the height-height correlation function diverges logarithmically at ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{r}}$. The measured value of the roughening transition temperature agrees remarkably well with recent molecular-dynamics calculations. Evidence of surface melting at about 520 K is also seen from the anomalous behavior in the diffraction intensity.