title: Self-organized formation of rhomboidal nanopyramids on fcc(110) metal surfaces.
abstract: We report on the far from equilibrium self-organized morphologies obtained after Xe ion irradiation of the Rh(110) and Cu(110) surfaces. Here we experimentally identify by means of high resolution LEED a novel interfacial state characterized by a rhomboidal pyramid islanding with majority steps oriented along nonequilibrium low-symmetry directions. The formation of the novel rhomboidal pyramid state and the transition to the well-known rippled phases results from a delicate interplay of kinetic processes which are controlled by acting on temperature, ion flux, and impact energy.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica and INFM-Unità di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, I-16146 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molle
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buatier de Mongeot
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xiaerding
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boragno
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Valbusa