Observation of synchronized atomic motions in the field ion microscope

► We use the FIM to examine the emission pattern in the presence of helium and neon imaging gas. ► Emission pattern is observed to rapidly change over timescales from 100 ms to 10 s. ► Changing emission pattern suggests transitions between several quasi-stable configurations. ► We claim the configurations represent neon adatoms bound to atomic sites, but free to move laterally. ► We can energetically restrict the lateral motion by increasing the applied electric field.