INITIAL-STAGES OF FORMATION OF A YB-SI(111)

The initial stages of formation of an Yb-Si(111) interface are investi gated by several methods: thermal desorption spectroscopy, atomic beam modulation, and low-energy electron diffraction. The structure of the adsorbed films and ytterbium silicide films is analyzed over a wide r ange of surface coverage ratios, along with the desorption kinetics of Yb atoms. The desorption activation energies of Yb atoms are measured for 3x2, 5X1, and 2X1 submonolayer structures, The temperature interv al in which ytterbium silicide decomposes and the activation energy of this process are determined, It is shown that the Yb-Si(111) phase in terface evolves by a mechanism similar to the Stransk-Krastanov mechan ism. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.