A new method was proposed for the determination of the activation energies for surface diffusion on large monocrystals. The activation energy for the surface diffusion of 1-dimensional or 2-dimensional islands, and the energy which was required in order to remove an adatom from an adsorbate island, were determined. The activation energy for the diffusion of 4-atom groups of Pd was equal to 0.60eV. The results were in good agreement with published data which had been obtained by means of field-ion microscopy.

J.Kolaczkiewicz, E.Bauer: Surface Science, 1991, 256[1-2], 87-93