Au adsorption induces a vast variety of different reconstructions on Si(1 1
1). In a combined scanning tunneling microscopy and spot-profile analysis-
low energy electron diffraction study we have observed for the first time a
n Au induced (2 x 2)-Au and (3 root3 x 3 root3)-Au surface reconstruction.
The atomic structure of the metastable (2 root 21 x 2 root 21)-Au reconstru
ction is described as (root3 x root3)-Au structure with an ordered arrangem
ent of super-heavy domain walls. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights
reserved.