Thermal Step Fluctuations

This movie shows adsorbed bromine atoms in a c(2x2) structure on two Cu(100) terraces seperated by an atomic step. There are several things to notice in the movie. The most obvious are the rapid fluctuations in the atomic positions at the step edge. You will also see two vacancies collide on the top terrace and a vacancy appear to hit the lower step edge and bounce off. Each frame was acquired in 2.5 sec.