Instability in Molecular Beam Epitaxy due to Fast Edge Diffusion and Corner Diffusion Barriers

Murty, M. V. R. K.; Cooper, B. H.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.83.352

Cited by 96 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The second term models a growth-induced surface current, whose existence is often (but not necessarily [17][18][19]) caused by the presence of an Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier for interlayer diffusion. We assume in-plane isotropy of the current (for a discussion of origins and consequences of anisotropy see [19,20]).…”

Section: The Continuum Equationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonmonotonic roughness evolution in unstable growth

Castellano

Krug

2000

Phys. Rev. B

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The roughness of vapor-deposited thin films can display a nonmonotonic dependence on film thickness, if the smoothening of the small-scale features of the substrate dominates over growth-induced roughening in the early stage of evolution. We present a detailed analysis of this phenomenon in the framework of the continuum theory of unstable homoepitaxy. Using the spherical approximation of phase ordering kinetics, the effect of nonlinearities and noise can be treated explicitly. The substrate roughness is characterized by the dimensionless parameter Q = W0/(k0a 2 ), where W0 denotes the roughness amplitude, k0 is the small scale cutoff wavenumber of the roughness spectrum, and a is the lattice constant. Depending on Q, the diffusion length lD and the Ehrlich-Schwoebel length lES, five regimes are identified in which the position of the roughness minimum is determined by different physical mechanisms. The analytic estimates are compared by numerical simulations of the full nonlinear evolution equation.

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Section: The Continuum Equationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonmonotonic roughness evolution in unstable growth

Castellano

Krug

2000

Phys. Rev. B

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“…For the latter case, it has been demonstrated by kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations that KESE leads to the formation of wavy steps [9]. However, so far there is neither detailed knowledge of the actual structure of the patterns nor their dynamical evolution under realistic MBE conditions.…”

Section: (Received 14 November 2000)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More recent experiments on the Cu (1,1,17) surface propose that the KESE instability may lead to formation of regularly shaped patterns with dynamical wavelength selection [8]. Recent theoretical studies of such instabilities suggest that KESE may indeed supersede BZI in the formation of growth patterns [5,9].…”

Section: (Received 14 November 2000)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Instability and Wavelength Selection during Step Flow Growth of Metal Surfaces Vicinal to fcc(001)

et al. 2001

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We study the onset and development of ledge instabilities during growth of vicinal metal surfaces using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. We observe the formation of periodic patterns at [110] close packed step edges on surfaces vicinal to fcc(001) under realistic molecular beam epitaxy conditions. The corresponding wavelength and its temperature dependence are studied by monitoring the autocorrelation function for step edge position. Simulations suggest that the ledge instability on fcc(1,1,m) vicinal surfaces is controlled by the strong kink Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier, with the wavelength determined by dimer nucleation at the step edge. Our results are in agreement with recent continuum theoretical predictions, and experiments on Cu(1,1,17) vicinal surfaces.

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“…Since adatoms cannot diffuse as easily down steps to equalize the terraces, the tendency is to grow upwards and form the mounds [3,[12][13][14][15]. The second mechanism for mound formation involves the diffusion of adatoms along step edges [16,17]. When there are asymmetric diffusion processes along steps due to corners or kinks, there is a tendency for adatoms to move closer to the step (and to higher coordinated sites) rather than move away or off the step.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%