In situ study of a thin metal film by optical means

A silver film deposited on MgO 100.at 573 K under ultra-high vacuum has been examined in situ by surface differential reflectance in the UV–Visible range. The growth mode of the film being of Volmer–Weber type, a suited model that accounts for electromagnetic coupling between clusters and substrate and finite relaxation time of electrons allowed to fully characterize the morphology of the deposit by giving correct estimates of the size, aspect ratio and density of the silver clusters. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved