Oscillatory Driving of Crystal Surfaces: A Route to Controlled Pattern Formation

Abstract

Pattern formation or smoothing of crystal surfaces may result from oscillatory conditions. The oscillations can have various origins, such as temperature, electric field, or elasticity. Depending on the driving conditions, step bunching, step meandering, mound formation, or surface smoothing may be seen in the presence of a kinetic asymmetry at the steps or kinks. Using the step model of Burton, Cabrera and Frank, we calculate the induced mass flux along misoriented (vicinal) surfaces, which accounts for surface dynamics and stability. Slope selection, surface metastability, and frequency-dependent surface stability are also found. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations confirm the obtained stability criterion. Experiments are proposed, and we focus on quantitative predictions for pattern formation on metal electrolyte surfaces.KeywordsMass FluxPattern FormationCrystal SurfaceNominal SurfaceVicinal SurfaceThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.