Coupling scanning tunneling microscope and supersonic molecular beams:A unique tool for in situ investigation of the morphology of activated systems.

We report here on a new experimental apparatus combining a commercial low temperature scanning tunneling microscope with a supersonic molecular beam. This setup provides a unique tool for the in situ investigation of the topography of activated adsorption systems and opens thus new interesting perspectives. It has been tested towards the formation of the O/Ag(110) added rows reconstruction and of their hydroxylation, comparing data recorded upon O exposure at thermal and hyperthermal energies.