Au-chains grown on Ge(100): A detailed SPA-LEED study

Au-induced wire structures grown on Ge(100) were shown to exhibit spectroscopic signatures of strong electronic correlation. However, the atomistic structure of these wires is still controversially discussed. In this study the morphology has been investigated by means of low energy electron diffraction (SPA-LEED). The detailed analysis of diffraction profiles favors strongly to the model of an Au-induced giant missing row (GMR) structure rather than the heterodimer model. Systematic variation of the initial Au-coverage has revealed further that approximately 0.25 ML of the deposited Au coverage penetrates into subsurface positions stabilizing the adsorbate-induced surface structure.