Desymmetrization of the polyhedral crystal shape of tetragonal lysozyme due to face-growth rate fluctuations

Abstract

We have studied the desymmetrization of the polyhedral crystalline shape of tetragonal lysozyme crystals due to the growth rate differences of the equivalent {1 0 1} planes. Using atomic force microscopy, we have observed the evolution of the multifaceted structures composed of four equivalent {1 0 1} faces during growth. In our growth condition, lateral step flow, where a large density of dislocations acts as a source of steps, is the dominant growth mechanism. The measured step flow velocities are almost independent of the separation between the neighboring steps, revealing that the local face normal growth rate is determined by the local step density. By tracing the motion of the vertex surrounded by the {1 0 1} faces, we have found that the desymmetrization of the crystalline shape is due to the large fluctuation of the local face normal growth rate, which is comparable in magnitude to the average growth rate.