Melting of two-dimensional adatom superlattices stabilized by long-range electronic interactions.
The melting transition of Ce adatom superlattices stabilized by long-range substrate-mediated electronic interactions on Cu(111) and Ag(111) noble metal surfaces has been investigated by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, density functional theory calculations, and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Intriguingly, owing to the interaction between Ce adatoms and substrate, these superlattices undergo two-dimensional melting to a liquid without transition through the hexatic phase. The crucial parameters for this direct solid to liquid transition are identified.
Negulyaev
N N
NN
Fachbereich Physik, Martin-Luther-Universität, Halle-Wittenberg, D-06099 Halle, Germany.
Stepanyuk
V S
VS
Niebergall
L
L
Bruno
P
P
Pivetta
M
M
Ternes
M
M
Patthey
F
F
Schneider
W-D
WD