Preparation of clean smooth Pb and In surfaces in situ in UHV-SEM

The preparation of clean and smooth metal surfaces by sputtering and annealing is studied in situ by ultra high vacuum scanning electron microscopy, small spot Auger electron spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction. Strategies are developed for cleaning surfaces with impurities with different segregation temperatures and lower sputtering yields than the metal. Examples used are Pb, In and Al. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.