Fm. Jacobsen et al., OXIDATION OF METAL-SURFACES AT 15 K - THE QUANTUM NATURE OF OXIDATION, Physical review. B, Condensed matter, 52(15), 1995, pp. 11339-11342
Studies of Ta oxidation at 15 K clearly show the formation of distinct
oxide species with increasing O-2 exposure, beginning with the most m
etal-rich species and concluding with the formation of the bulk oxide
and the buildup of a potential across the oxide layer. The formation o
f this sequence in a diffusionless regime is consistent with electron
tunneling leading to local potentials that allow atomic motion at low
temperatures. This potential finally develops into the collective Mott
potential across the layer.