Finite-size effects on the W(001) low-temperature phase transition

The W(001) low-temperature, reconstructive phase transition was studied by low-energy electron diffraction with use of a carefully aligned, low-step-density W(001) surface. Finite-size effects on this transition were studied by observing the same transition on a high-step-density W(001) surface which has limited size reconstruction domains of {~}60×{}30 A{}. The critical behavior of the step-limited domains shows rounding of the order parameter and shifting of the critical temperature as compared with the results obtianed from the much larger flat-surface domains.