We observed a self-similar growth (scaling of oxygen antiphase domains) of the (2×1) structure chemisorbed on the W(112) surface using time-resolved, high-resolution, low-energy electron diffraction technique. The initial stage of domain growth after the system was quenched from a lattice-gas state was shown to obey a curvature-driven mechanism. The scaling function was extracted from the angular distribution of the intensity of the (1/2 0) beam and was compared with recent analytical theories and Monte Carlo simulations. Breakdown of scaling was observed after the termination of the curvature-driven regime.

• Received 26 August 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.39.9432