Evidence for anomalous thermal expansion at a crystal surface

Joost W. M. Frenken; Frank Huussen; J. F. van der Veen

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.58.401

Evidence for anomalous thermal expansion at a crystal surface

Joost W. M. Frenken, Frank Huussen, and J. F. van der Veen

Phys. Rev. Lett. 58, 401 – Published 26 January 1987

Abstract

Ion shadowing and blocking measurements indicate that the thermal expansion coefficient of a Pb crystal is substantially enhanced at its (110) surface. This is evidenced by a decrease in surface contraction with temperature. The first atomic layer is shifted with respect to its truncated-bulk location by -15.4±2.5% of a bulk spacing at 29 K, but by only -3±5% at 485 K.