Dynamics and phase transitions at surfaces observed with STM and ion scattering

This paper describes experiments on three forms of temperature dependent surface behaviour. We use scanning tunnelling microscopy to investigate the diffusive motion of steps and kinks on two low-index crystal surfaces, Au(110) and Pb(111), and to directly observe the surface roughening transition on the vicinal Ag(115)surface. The high depth sensitivity of medium-energy ion scattering is exploited in the study of surface melting and the related high temperature faceting of surfaces vicinal to Pb(111).