Picosecond surface electron diffraction studies of laser-heated Ge low-index surfaces

The dynamics of the Ge[111] reconstruction and the Ge[111], Ge[100], and Ge[110] surface phase transitions near the bulk melting point is investigated by 100-ps time-resolved reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). A laser pulse heats the surface while a synchronized electron pulse is used to obtain a RHEED pattern.