title: Systematic study of the dolomite (104) surface by bimodal dynamic force microscopy in ultra-high vacuum.
abstract: We have investigated the morphology and structure of dolomite MgCa(CO(3))(2)(104) surfaces by bimodal dynamic force microscopy with flexural and torsional resonance modes in ultra-high vacuum at room temperature. We found that the surface slowly decomposes by degassing CO(2) in a vacuum and becomes covered by amorphous clusters, presumably MgO and CaO. By choosing an optimal sample preparation procedure (i.e. cleaving in a vacuum and mild annealing for stabilizing clusters for a short time), atomically clean surfaces were obtained. The complex tip-sample interaction, arising from carbonate groups and Mg and Ca atoms of the surface, induces a large variety of atomic-scale imaging features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland. shigeki.kawai@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pina
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bubendorf
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fessler
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Glatzel
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gnecco
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meyer