Nothing moves a surface: Vacancy mediated surface diffusion

We report scanning tunneling microscopy observations, which imply that all atoms in a Cu(001) surface move frequently, even at room temperature. Using a low density of embedded indium tracer atoms, we visualize the diffusive motion of surface atoms. Surprisingly, the indium atoms seem to make concerted, long jumps. Responsible fur this, motion is an ultralow density of surface vacancies, diffusing rapidly within the surface. This interpretation is supported by a detailed analysis of the displacement distribution of the indium atoms, which reveals a shape characteristic fur the vacancy mediated diffusion mechanism that we propose.