Roughening transitions in the vicinal areas of Ta{110} and Ta{100} observed during vapour growth on clean, thermally rounded Ta crystallites

Abstract

Vapour growth as a function of sample temperature was studied with FEM in the clean vicinal areas of Ta{110} and Ta{110}. A fairly steady growth was observed up to about 800 K: Classical growth at T < T c ( T c = roughening transition temperature). The growth rate increased steeply at 800 K along the 〈311〉 edges of {110} and at 860 K along the 〈110〉 edges of {100}: Accelerated growth at T ≥ T c. ( T c({110}/〈311〉) = 800 K; T c({100}/〈110〉) = 860 K.) The rapid growth at T > T c is in agreement with a prediction by Burton and Cabrera (1949).