Atomic Steps on Sapphire Surface

Sapphire crystal following annealing at 1400°C, leaving a clean surface with atomic steps and occasional defects. The steps are approximately 3 angstroms tall, 12 µm scan. Imaged with the MFP-3D AFM. Sample courtesy of F. Watanabe. Image courtesy of S. MacLaren, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.