Influence of step-induced anti-phase boundaries on the surface morphology of zincblende-type semiconductors

Experimentelle Physik II, Universität Würzburg Am Hubland, Würzburg, D-97074, Germany

Corresponding author: sokolowski@thch.uni-bonn.de

Received: 25 July 2001
Accepted: 30 May 2002

Abstract

Using high-resolution low-energy electron diffraction, we find a “correlation” of the reconstruction of the surface across [010]- and [100]-oriented steps. The difference of the corresponding step vectors is incompatible with the reconstruction. Thus intersection points of [010]- and [100]-oriented steps at 2D island corners or kinks induce anti-phase boundaries along the direction. This mechanism yields a non-local contribution to the step energy which generally could be important for the explanation of step morphologies, e.g., of the recently observed, self-organized checkerboard-like arrangement of nano-terraces on a vicinal surface.