Orientational Epitaxy—the Orientational Ordering of Incommensurate Structures

Anthony D. Novaco; John P. McTague

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.38.1286

Orientational Epitaxy—the Orientational Ordering of Incommensurate Structures

Anthony D. Novaco and John P. McTague

Phys. Rev. Lett. 38, 1286 – Published 30 May 1977

Abstract

A new class of structures is predicted to exist for monolayer films on solid surfaces. These structures involve two incommensurate lattices—the monolayer lattice and the surface lattice— which have a preferred relative orientation. The precise orientation depends upon the lattice constant and symmetry of each lattice. We believe this orientationally ordered incommensurate phase to be present in many physisorbed films. In particular, the existence of this phase appears to explain recent low-energy electron diffraction data for rare gases adsorbed homogeneous substrates.

Received 28 March 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.38.1286

Authors & Affiliations

Anthony D. Novaco^*,†,‡

Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042, and Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973

John P. McTague^†,‡,§

University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024, and Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973

^*Research supported in part by the National Science Foundation Grant No. DMR75-15630.
^†Guest scientist at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
^‡Work at Brookhaven National Laboratory supported in part by the U. S. Energy Research and Development Agency.
^§Research supported in part by the National Science Foundation Grant No. CHE76-21293.