Structure determination of Bi/Ge(111)- by dynamical low-energy electron diffraction analysis and scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract

We have determined the atomic structure of the Bi/Ge(111)-(√3×√3)R30◦ surface by dynamical low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) analysis and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The optimized atomic structure consists of Bi atoms which are adsorbed near the T1 sites of the bulk-truncated Ge(111) surface and form triangular trimer units centered at the T4 sites. The atomically resolved STM image was consistent with the LEED result. The sructural parameters agree well with those optimized by a first-principles calculation which supports the interpretation of the electronic band splitting on this surface in terms of the giant Rashba effect.