Using high-resolution low-energy electron diffraction, a so-called correlation of the c(2 x 2) reconstruction of the ZnSe(001) surface was found across [010]- and [100]-oriented steps. The difference in the corresponding step vectors was incompatible with the c(2 x 2) reconstruction. Thus, the intersection points of [010]- and [100]-oriented steps at 2D island corners or kinks induced c(2 x 2) antiphase boundaries along the [1¯10] direction. This mechanism yielded a non-local contribution to the step energy which might be generally important for the explanation of step morphologies. For instance, the self-organized chequerboard-like arrangement of nano-terraces on a vicinal CdTe(001) surface.

Influence of Step-Induced Anti-Phase Boundaries on the Surface Morphology of Zincblende-Type Semiconductors. Z.H.Chen, M.Sokolowski, F.Stadler, M.Schneider, R.Fink, E.Umbach: Europhysics Letters, 2002, 59[4], 552-8