DOMAIN-WALL PINNING IN UNIAXIAL PHASES OF PB ADLAYERS ON A CU(110) SURFACE

Submonolayers of Pb adsorbed on the Cu(110) surface form a series of uniaxial commensurate phases. We report the results of synchrotron x-ray scattering studies of the global phase behavior of this chemisorption system. We observe a floating-incommensurate to soliton-glass phase transition due to domain-wall pinning. The nature of this transition and other novel features revealed in this study are discussed in the context of current theories for strong adlayer systems. © 1990 The American Physical Society.