A long time-scale molecular dynamics simulation of a Co adatom on an unreconstructed Au(111) surface was performed at 140 to 870K. The Co and Au were modelized by many-body potentials determined within the second-moment approximation of the tight-binding theory. From 260 to 750K, the diffusion exhibited Arrhenius behavior:

D (cm2/s) = 5.8 x 10-4exp[-0.160(eV)/kT

From 810K, an exchange process of the Co adatom with a surface gold atom of surface was observed.

Long-Time Scale Molecular Dynamics Study of Co Diffusion on the Au(111) Surface. Bulou, H., Lucas, O., Kibaly, M., Goyhenex, C.: Computational Materials Science, 2003, 27[1-2], 181-5