Reflection high-energy electron diffraction from lithium niobate single-crystal surfaces for application in molecular beam epitaxy

A modified RHEED system has been constructed to study nonconductive crystal lithium niobate (LiNbO3) using electron energies up to 50 keV. The problems encountered are discussed and preliminary results presented. We outline the potential use of the technique in the routine analysis of insulating substrates prior to the deposition of epitaxial layers by MBE, and in the examination of the deposited layers.