Local structural changes on Pb/Ge(111) were obtained using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy. The positions of the Pb and Ge adatoms embedded in the plane of the Pb/Ge(111)-c(2 x 8) surface system were interchanged using an atomic force microscopy tip. The Pb adatoms were collected into a localised area in order to induce a local structural change to a (2 x 2) periodic structure. In the same manner, the local (2 x 2) phase was then changed back to the original c(2 x 8) structure.

Tip-Induced Local Reconstruction on the Pb/Ge(111) Surface Using Frequency Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy. A.Ohiso, Y.Sugimoto, M.Abe, S.Morita: Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2007, 46, 5582-5