Surface X-Ray Scattering: Shape and Structure of Low-dimensional Objects

Surface x-ray scattering technique is one of the first groups of synchrotron radiation tools as developed in the early 1980s when synchrotron light sources became available. In this paper, we give a retrospective account of two studies: (1) an early work on multistage faceting of Pt vicinal surface performed at NSLS, and (2) a recent work of resonant x-ray diffraction on self-assembled InGaAs quantum dots at NSRRC. The results are discussed in the interest of equilibrium crystal shape of low-dimensional objects.