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 nc = roughening transition temperature). 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).