).
Segregation of nitrogen causes herringbone-like (3 x n) surface reconstructions, which were studied by atomically resolved scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The main building blocks of the reconstruction are domains of (√6 × √6)R±35° cells, separated by domain boundaries running in [-1 1 0] direction. Since the density of Cr atoms in the surface is reduced by the reconstruction, the driving force of the reconstruction is believed to be compressive stress caused by the incorporation of N atoms into the surface.
Corresponding author: M. Schmid (schmid).
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