In this book "surface science" is understood in a broad sense, taken to include two-dimensional structures such as thin films and superlattices. Thecontributions reflect current research activities in surface and thin-film science in Latin-America, presenting a clear picture of the research centers, equipment and expertise available in the region in this rapidly developing field of physics. The topics treated cover the whole spectrum of the subject, with the latest theoretical results beingreported alongside details of industrial applications such as materials characterization and photovoltaic cells. Surface scientists, engineers and research admistrators will find this volume of interest.

This volume contains review articles which were written by the invited speak ers of the seventh International Summer Institute in Surface Science (ISISS), held at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in July 1985. The form of ISISS is a set of tutorial review lectures presented over a one-week period by internationally recognized experts on various aspects of surface science. Each speaker is asked, in addition, to write a review article on his lecture topic. No single volume in the series Chemistry and Physics of Solid Surfaces can possibly cover the entire field of modern surface science. However, the series as a whole is intended to provide experts and students alike with a comprehensive set of reviews and literature references, particularly empha sizing the gas-solid interface. The collected articles from previous Summer Institutes have been published under the following titles: Surface Science: Recent Progress and Perspectives, Crit. Rev. Solid State Sci. 4, 125-559 (1974) Chemistry and Physics of Solid Surfaces, Vols. I, II, and III (CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL 1976, 1979 and 1982), Vols. IV and V, Springer Ser. Chern. Phys., Vols. 20 and 35, (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg 1982 and 1984). The field of catalysis, which has provided the major impetus for the de velopment of modern surface science, lost two of its pioneers during 1984 and 1985: Professors G.-M. Schwab (1899-1984) and p.k. Emmett (1900-1985).

The Chemistry and Physics of Solid Surfaces volumes present selected review articles, mainly in the area of the solid-gas interface. These articles are written by internationally recognized experts who are invited speakers at the International Summer Institute in Surface Science. Volume VII includes, among others, the following topics: Inert Gas Layers on Metal Surfaces, Infrared Spectroscopy of Semiconductor Surfaces, Critical Phenomena of Chemisorbed Atoms, NEXAFS and SEXAFS, Surface Reconstruction, Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy, Fractals in Surface Science, Growth Kinetics in Molecular Beam Epitaxy. It is the purpose of these volumes to bring researchers in academia and industry up to date and to bridge the gap between conventional textbooks and specialized surface science conference proceedings. The volumes provide extensive references to the literature and each includes a detailed subject index.