By using ultra-high vacuum scanning electron microscopy, an investigation was made of sublimation-related phenomena, and the dynamics of atomic steps, on (111) surfaces that were atomically flat on the large scale (100 x 50μm). Step spacings during step-flow sublimation were analyzed as an indication of the adatom diffusion length, and were compared for a normal (111) surface and a heavily B-doped (111) surface. The spacing exhibited a transition-like increase which was related to incomplete surface melting. The step-flow velocity was obtained for ultra-large terraces.

Steps on Subliming Si(111) Surfaces Y.Homma, P.Finnie: Journal of Physics - Condensed Matter, 1999, 11[49], 9879-88