Simultaneous molecular beam epitaxy growth and scanning tunneling microscopy imaging during Ge/Si epitaxy

Abstract
A high temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM) capable of simultaneous imaging and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth at 600–900 K sample temperature is described. The formation of the two‐dimensional Stranski–Krastanov layer and the evolution of three‐dimensional islands during further growth of Ge on Si(111) was observed. An inversion of the aspect ratio of the islands with increasing coverage indicates a transition from coherent to dislocated 3D islands. This method (MBSTM) opens the possibility to follow MBE growth processes with STM in a real in situ way and gives access to the evolution of specific features during growth.