RHEED INTENSITY OSCILLATIONS DURING EPITAXIAL-GROWTH OF FCC FE ON CU(001)

Up to 14 strong intensity oscillations of the specular beam in reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) have been observed during the epitaxial growth of face-centered (fcc) Fe on Cu(001) in the temperature range between 333-370 K. The amplitudes of these oscillations are strong even in the initial stages of growth. This provides evidence that the hetero-epitaxial growth of fcc Fe on Cu(001) proceeds predominantly layer-by-layer-like in that temperature regime. For growth at 300 K, initial Fe-bilayer-island formation followed by predominant layer-by-layer growth above 2 monolayers (ML) of Fe is observed. 3D growth prevails at approximately 100 K.