Decay Characteristics of Surface Mounds with Contrasting Interlayer Mass Transport Channels
The decay characteristics of three-dimensional (3D) islands formed on surfaces are investigated theoretically considering two types of interlayer mass transport mechanisms. If an adatom on a given layer can easily descend from any site along the periphery of the layer, an optimal island slope and a constant terrace width will be selected during the decay. In contrast, if the adatom can descend primarily through selective (such as kinked) sites, the decay will be accompanied by a gradual increase in the island slope. These generic conclusions provide the basis for a microscopic understanding of the decay of nanostructures in fcc(111) and fcc(100) metal homoepitaxy and are applicable to other systems as well.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 40205711
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review Letters, Vol. 86, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.2345; Othernumber: PRLTAO000086000011002345000001; 026111PRL; PBD: 12 Mar 2001; ISSN 0031-9007
- Publisher:
- The American Physical Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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