Critical cluster size: Island morphology and size distribution in submonolayer epitaxial growth.

Abstract

The dynamic scaling of the island-size distribution in submonolayer epitaxial growth and its dependence on the critical island size $i$ is studied using a realistic model of epitaxial growth for $i\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0,1,2$, and 3. An analytic expression for the scaled island-size distribution as a function of $i$ is also proposed. Our results agree well with experiments on Fe/Fe(100) deposition and on Fe/Cu(100) deposition. Crossover scaling forms for the variation of the island density and critical island size as a function of temperature and deposition rate are also presented.