Atom condensation on an atomically smooth surface: Ir, Re, W, and Pd on Ir(111)

Abstract
The distribution of condensing metal atoms over the two types of sites present on an atomically smooth Ir(111) has been measured in a field ion microscope. For Ir, Re, W, and Pd from a thermal source, condensing on Ir(111) at ≊20 K, the atoms are randomly distributed, as expected if they condense at the first site struck.