  We report on experimental evidence for the formation of a two dimensional
Si/Au(110) surface alloy. In this study, we have used a combination of scanning
tunneling microscopy, low energy electron diffraction, Auger electron
spectroscopy and ab initio calculations based on density functional theory. A
highly ordered and stable Si-Au surface alloy is observed subsequent to growth
of a sub-monolayer of silicon on an Au(110) substrate kept above the eutectic
temperature.
