LATERAL, TRANSLATION OF AN XE ATOM ON METAL-SURFACES

This work presents the theoretical study of the controlled lateral tra nslation of an Xe atom physisorbed on the Ni(110) surface. The motion of the Xe is manipulated by the tip of the scanning tunnelling microsc ope. The interaction of the physisorbed atom with the tip and sample s urface is described by empirical potentials. Using molecular statics a nd dynamics, the energetics and different modes of the translation are revealed. Important effects of electrode relaxation, tip geometry and material parameters are briefly discussed.