Surface crystallography by low energy electron diffraction

Abstract

Abstract The present status of the methodology of full dynamical surface structure determination by low energy electron diffraction (LEED) is reviewed with respect to both experiment and theory. Restriction is to today widely used experimental and computational techniques including the powerful approach by Tensor LEED on the theoretical side. Special emphasis is on more recent developments to tackle increasingly complex surface structures. So, we describe new structural search procedures which aim to arrive at the global rather than only a local R-factor minimum in parameter space as the best fit between experiment and theory. Also, we illuminate the application of LEED to disordered adsorbates and the related development of holographic image reconstruction from diffuse diffraction patterns. The most recent extension of this direct method to ordered structures is included as well, showing that the resulting structural information is most valuable if not essential for finding the correct atomic model of the surface. Examples are given in each case and a selection of particularly demanding structure determinations is presented as well.