(Georgia Institute of Technology, 1991)
Wang, Z. L. (Zhong Lin); Bentley, James
Reflection electron microscopy (REM) was applied to image in-situ the dynamic changes
of atomic-height steps on the surfaces of a-alumina bulk crystals heated to high temperatures. Atomic diffusion, desorption and adsorption processes on cleaved a-alumina (012) surfaces were directly observed at temperatures of 1470 to 1670 K. The surface started to show visible
structural changes at 1470-1520 K. The main surface process appears to be atomic desorption, which creates large, flat vacancy-type terraces on the surface.