Abstract
We present an x-ray-diffraction structural analysis of liquid Sn layers of monolayer thickness absorbed on Ge(111) surfaces. Above the melting temperature, we find that the Sn atoms display both liquidlike and solidlike behavior. The liquid shows both perpendicular and lateral ordering. The Sn/Ge(111) system allows us to investigate the influence of temperature on the liquid structure. Our most important observation is that the structure of the liquid Sn layer changes gradually with temperature from more solidlike to more liquidlike.