title: Defect-induced perturbations of atomic monolayers on solid surfaces.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Theory Group, P.O. Box 3148, D 55021 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schiessel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oshanin
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cazabat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreau