Fe/Cu(311) is a highly asymmetrical heteroepitaxial growth system. The surface symmetry
of the growth front is characterized by the uniaxial arrangement of close-packed
Fe atom rows. Dominant stress along these rows has considerable impact on the film
morphology and leads to a periodically faceting of the film. In this way,
an anisotropic surface topography is achieved which resembles an up-and-down staircase.
It shows up in an anisotropic broadening of LEED spots for out-of-phase scattering conditions.
Shape and energy-dependent variation of the spot profiles give throughout information on the
periodic length of the faceted surface, on the inclination angle of facets
and on the number of layers contributing to the growth front.