Equilibrium structure of monatomic steps on vicinal Si(001)

Abstract

The equilibrium structure of monatomic steps on vicinal Si(001) is described in terms of anisotropic nearest-neighbor and isotropic second-nearest-neighbor interactions between dimers. By comparing scanning-tunneling-microscopy data and this equilibrium structure, we obtained interaction energies of 0.38 eV between dimers in a row, 0.24 eV between sets of two dimers in adjacent rows, and -0.07 eV for the diagonal interaction between dimers in adjacent rows.