We report on the adsorption of atomic C in submonolayer coverages an t
he Al(111) surface. The local order at the surface is studied for diff
erent thermal treatments by means of full-hemispherical X-ray photoele
ctron diffraction. Deposition at room temperature results in disordere
d C adsorption while an ordering process takes place after annealing a
bove 475 K. We depict the structure of the annealed C-rich phase. The
Cls diffraction patterns are interpreted by comparison with single sca
ttering cluster calculations. The results are discussed with respect t
o bath previous theoretical ansi experimental work. (C) 1998 Elsevier
Science B.V.