Step fluctuation spectroscopy of Au(1 1 1) by LEEM

We report a study of the fluctuations exhibited by step edges on clean Au(1 1 1), using low energy electron microscopy. The research yields values for the surface mass diffusion coefficient Ds and the orientation-dependent step stiffness β ˜ ( θ ) through the temperature range 900–1300 K. Uniform, threefold and sixfold components of the measured β ˜ ( θ ) on the 3 m surface have similar magnitudes and are only weakly temperature dependent. The measured Ds are similar to values reported earlier for Pt(1 1 1) and Pd(1 1 1) at homologous temperatures, determined relative to the melting temperatures.