The reconstruction process of the Si(111)-(√3 x √3)R30°-Ag surface was studied by using a scanning tunnelling microscope at 78K. By applying a strong interaction between the tip and the surface, a tip-induced reconstruction corresponding to the merging of two Si(111)-(√3 x √3)R30°-Ag domains was observed. Based on the inequivalent trimers model, this reconstruction process was attributed to a transition between the clockwise and counter-clockwise inequivalent trimer domains. With this transition, the honeycomb-chained-trimer Si(111)-(√3 x √3)R30°-Ag anti-phase boundary disappeared and changes to the inequivalent trimer structure.

Scanning Tunnelling Microscope Tip-Induced Reconstruction on Si(111) (3)1/2x(3)1/2 R30°-Ag Surface. B.Li, C.G.Zeng, H.Q.Wang, B.Wang, J.G.Hou: Chinese Physics Letters, 2001, 18[2], 181-3