The surface self-diffusion behavior was studied under high-vacuum conditions by using the sinusoidal profile decay technique. The decay of the profiles was monitored by using laser diffraction techniques. The plane which was studied was (111), and the diffusion direction on the plane was of [211]-type. At 1374 to 1521K, the results could be described by:

D (cm2/s) = 6.6 x 101 exp[-48.4(kcal/mol)/RT]

A comparison of the activation energy with a pair-wise potential model revealed that appreciable lattice relaxation occurred when an atom occupied the saddle-point position.

J.M.Yu, R.Trivedi: Surface Science, 1983, 125[2], 396-408