INFLUENCE OF TIP VIBRATION ON THE PROBABILITY OF SURFACE MODIFICATIONBY A VOLTAGE PULSE IN A SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPE

An investigation was made of the probability of modification of a gold surface by a voltage pulse in a scanning tunneling microscope in the presence of harmonic vibrations of the tip. The dependence of the modi fication probability on the pulse amplitude revealed a substantial shi ft of the threshold voltage and a corresponding broadening of the tran sition section. These results confirm the assumption that the modifica tion probability may undergo a smooth transition from zero to maximum as a result of mechanical vibrations of the tip. (C) 1998 American Ins titute of Physics.