Structure of the clean Re(101̄0) surface

Abstract

Existing LEED data from the clean Re(101̄0) surface have been analyzed by comparing with the results of fully dynamical calculations for numerous models. The analysis indicates that this surface has the second layer atoms located directly below the centers of the geometric rectangles of the first layer. This geometry is one of the two possible terminations of the truncated bulk crystal. Further, the analysis indicates that the interlayer spacing between the 1st and 2nd atomic layers is contracted by about 17% from its bulk value, while the spacing beteeen the 2nd and 3rd layers may be slightly expanded. Since the data employed in the analysis consisted of only two diffracted beams, the above conclusions should be considered as tentative and accepted with reasonable caution. However, this is the first reported LEED analysis for the (101̄0) surface of an hcp metal. So it is of interest to determine whether our conclusions will be verified for Re and/or similar results found for other hcp metals.