The surface displacement technique was used to measure the temperature and frequency dependence of the periodic expansion of a surface which was subjected to a modulated focused beam of 1keV electrons. Theoretical models were used to predict the observed effects on the basis of thermal transport and defect lifetimes. The results showed that the displacement response of the present surface could not be described by using a model that was based only upon thermal energy transport. The creation, relaxation and diffusion of defects, as well as the expansion of defects, had to be considered.

M.Reichling, R.Bennewitz, E.Matthias: Journal de Physique III, 1994, 4[C7], 191-4