Self-organization on Au(111) vicinal surfaces and the role of surface stress

Abstract Using scanning tunneling microscopy and low energy electron diffraction, we report on the long range spatial self-organization of four Au(111) vicinal surfaces. It is shown that the atomic structure of steps strongly affects the long range ordered morphology: periods on surfaces misoriented towards the [2 1 1 ] azimuthal direction are about 100 A, whereas quasi-periods are about 2000 A when surfaces are misoriented towards the opposite azimuth. The stable structures are explained in terms of stress relief induced at the facet edges.