Strain-relieving ridge structure in a wetting layer on the W(1Â 1Â 0) surface

The growth behavior and atomic structure of the Ag wetting layer grown on the W(1 1 0) surface, was studied with scanning tunneling microscopy. Deposited Ag atoms preferentially adsorb at the step edges and reveal a step-flow growth behavior at room temperature. In the Ag wetting layer, a periodic bright ridge structure was observed along the [3¯37] and [3¯37¯] directions. The atomic registry of the ridge structure is proposed on the basis of atomically resolved images.