Step Instabilities: A New Kinetic Route to 3D Growth
Journal Article
·
· Physical Review Letters
- Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-0631 (United States)
- Health Sciences Research Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6123 (United States)
Atomic force microscopy studies of Ge/Si(001) molecular beam epitaxy growth reveal a crucial new role of surface steps in the 2D to 3D transition. At or near step flow we show that {ital S}{sub {ital A}} steps undergo a stress-driven triangular step instability. The resulting spatial variation of surface strain, although small, can dramatically influence the activation barrier for 3D island nucleation. This provides a surprising kinetic route for the onset of 3D growth associated with the apex regions of triangular steps.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 116010
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 75; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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