Nonlinear diffusion equation for epitaxial growth and recovery on vicinal surfaces

Recently, we derived a theoretical model for molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) on vicinal surfaces that includes both adatom diffusion and a nonlinear term for diatomic island formation. The model was shown to reproduce and explain both the transient behavior of reflection high-energy electron-diffractio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of crystal growth Vol. 111; no. 1; pp. 162 - 167
Main Authors Myers-Beaghton, Andrea K., Vvedensky, Dimitri D.
Format Journal Article Conference Proceeding
LanguageEnglish
Published Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.1991
Elsevier
Subjects
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Exact sciences and technology
Physics
Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces
Surface and interface dynamics and vibrations
Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
Thin film structure and morphology
Crystal growth
Adsorption
Reflection high energy electron diffraction
Molecular beam condensation
Epitaxy
Theoretical study
Chemical diffusion
Step
Island structure
Thin film
Surface
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Summary:Recently, we derived a theoretical model for molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) on vicinal surfaces that includes both adatom diffusion and a nonlinear term for diatomic island formation. The model was shown to reproduce and explain both the transient behavior of reflection high-energy electron-diffraction measurements of MBE on stepped surfaces and their dependence on the growth conditions. Here, we refine the model to include the formation of higher-atomic islands (with up to ten atoms) as well as their decay, and incorporate a simple model for atom attachment and detachment kinetics at the step edges. We show that incorporation of island break-up is necessary for a realistic model of recovery.
ISSN:0022-0248
1873-5002
DOI:10.1016/0022-0248(91)90964-7