The influence of lattice mismatch-induced tensile strain on the diffusion o
f Si dimers on Si(001) has been studied. The rate of surface diffusion of a
Si dimer along the substrate dimer rows is relatively insensitive to tensi
le strain, whereas the rate of diffusion for a Si dimer across the substrat
e dimer rows is significantly enhanced. The insensitivity of the along row
diffusion rate for tensile strain is attributed to the presence of a dissoc
iative intermediate state of the ad-dimer during diffusion rather than diff
usion as a solid unit. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All righ
ts reserved.