Abstract. Experiments are described in which low energy electron microscopy is employed to investigate the kinetics and energetics of clean close-packed metal surfaces, using step fluctuation spectroscopy. The data contain systematic trends of surface mass diffusion and step energetics that are identified and discussed. Further experiments and equipment development have been undertaken to explore the influence of accelerated mixing on surface evolution caused by ion beams, through the resulting kinetic and energetic perturbations of surface processes.

Print publication: Issue 16 (27 April 2005)
Received and in final form 9 December 2004
Published 8 April 2005