Lattice relaxation of Gd on W(110)

A combined scanning tunneling microscopy and low energy electron diffractio n study enables to propose a model of the atomic arrangement in the first c lose-packed monolayer of Gd on W(110). The lattice parameter of the Gd/W(11 0) epitaxial system in the first two layers is larger than in the bulk Gd. This lattice mismatch amounts to 2% for the first and ca. 0.3% for the seco nd monolayer. From the third monolayer on the lattice parameter corresponds to the one of the bulk Gd crystal. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.