Title

Tip-Induced Adatom Extraction And Cluster Manipulation

Abstract

We present results for tip-induced extraction of a Cu adatom from Cu mound on Cu(111), and compare the characteristics to that for a similar Ag system. Molecular-dynamics and molecular static simulations were carried out using interaction potentials from the embedded atom method. Molecular-dynamics simulations revealed differences in the modes of extraction for the cases of Ag and Cu systems and their dependence on tip geometry. For the case of a sharp Ag tip, the extraction of a Ag adatom occurs via the pulling mode, while with a blunt Ag tip, the extraction is more complex involving a two-step motion. On the other hand, the relatively stronger Cu-Cu interaction leads to a sliding and/or dragging mode in which the whole three-dimensional cluster is dragged followed by the extraction of the adatom from the cluster. Molecular static simulations provide a detailed analysis of the changes in the energy landscape in the presence of the tip, resulting in a substantial decrease of the energy barrier for an adatom to descend from the mound. © 2007 The American Physical Society.

Publication Date

5-7-2007

Publication Title

Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

Volume

75

Issue

20

Number of Pages

-

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.75.205409

Socpus ID

34347342745 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/34347342745

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