Profile and plan-view imaging of reconstructed surface structures of gold

Profile and plan-view high resolution images of reconstructed surface structures of gold are described. Profile images are sensitive to displacements of surface atoms normal to the surfaces. They also show displacements parallel to the surface but only along one direction perpendicular to the electron beam direction. The plan-view images, on the other hand, show displacements parallel to the surfaces. Thus, the effectiveness of the two methods depends on the characteristics of the reconstruction. Profile imaging is effective for studies of the reconstructions of Au(001)5 × 28 and Au(110)2 × 1), but plan-view images are effective for studies of the reconstruction of Au(111)22 × 1. In this sense the methods are complementary.