Abstract
The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has proven to be a powerful technique for probing surface acoustic waves (SAWs) with high spatial resolution. Here we use our ultrahigh-vacuum SAW-STM to investigate a Rayleigh wave excited in LiNbO3 with emphasis laid on the SAW-induced signals at steps that are only a few atomic layers high. Our study reveals that on the length scale of a few nanometer the description of the amplitude and phase contrast by a plain geometrical model fails and a variety of other mechanisms decisively affect the SAW-induced signal. At steps the lateral surface movement due to the SAW may play an important role. For larger step inclination angles also the shape of the STM tip as well as tip-surface interactions become relevant, which may even drive a SAW-induced movement of the tip apex.
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