Dynamics of nanodefects on a loaded gold surface

The dynamics of defects with linear dimensions from approximate to 1 to app roximate to 100 nm on a Au surface under load have been studied by means of tunnelling microscopy. It is found that the origin, growth, and resorption of the defects is caused by displacements of bands of material from 5 to 5 0 nm wide, parallel to the {111} slip planes. The defects can be separated into two groups: nonsteady-state defects, whose lifetime does not exceed 15 min, while the depth is less than or equal to 20 nm, and quasi-steady-stat e defects, with a lifetime three orders of magnitude greater than the first . It is assumed that the nonsteady-state defects are formed when the ensemb le of dislocations is being reconstructed, while the quasi-steady-state def ects are formed at the instant of formation of dislocation substructures du ring the creep of the loaded metal. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S1063-7834(98)00912-5].