Structure determination of Bi/Ge(111)-[Formula: see text] by dynamical low-energy electron diffraction analysis and scanning tunneling microscopy.

We have determined the atomic structure of the Bi/Ge(111)-[Formula: see text] surface by dynamical low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) analysis and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The optimized atomic structure consists of Bi atoms which are adsorbed near the T(1) sites of the bulk-truncated Ge(111) surface and form triangular trimer units centered at the T(4) sites. The atomically resolved STM image was consistent with the LEED result. The structural parameters agree well with those optimized by a first-principles calculation which supports the interpretation of the electronic band splitting on this surface in terms of the giant Rashba effect.