Scanning Tunnelling Microscope Tip-Induced Reconstruction onSi(111)√3 x√3 R30°-Ag Surface

The reconstruction process of the Si(111) √3 x√3 R30°-Ag surface is studied by using a scanning tunnelling microscope at 78K. By applying a strong interaction between the tip and the surface, a tip-induced reconstruction corresponding to the mergence of two Si(111) √3 x√3 R30°-Ag domains is observed. Based on the inequivalent trimers (IET) model, this reconstruction process is attributed to a transition between the clockwise and counterclockwise IET domains. With this transition, the honeycomb-chained-trimer Si(111) )√3 x√3 R30°-Ag anti-phase boundary disappears and changes to the IET structure.