Defect-induced perturbations of atomic monolayers on solid surfaces.
We study long-range morphological changes in atomic monolayers on solid substrates induced by different types of defects; e.g., by monoatomic steps in the surface, or by the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM), placed at some distance above the substrate. Representing the monolayer in terms of a suitably extended Frenkel-Kontorova-type model, we calculate the defect-induced density profiles for several possible geometries. In case of an AFM tip, we also determine the extra force exerted on the tip due to the tip-induced dehomogenization of the monolayer.
Schiessel
H
H
Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Theory Group, P.O. Box 3148, D 55021 Mainz, Germany.
Oshanin
G
G
Cazabat
A M
AM
Moreau
M
M