Microscopic theory of diffusion on lattices with local distortion

Abstract

We present results of microscopic calculations of single adatom diffusion on models of centered rectangular surfaces allowing local distortions in the adiabatic potential. We demonstrate how the diffusion anisotropy and the Arrhenius form depend on these local changes. In particular, we compare our results at low temperatures with predictions based on simple random walk arguments. The results of these calculations are applied to the diffusion anisotropy of H adatoms on a W(110) surface.