Simulations of Step Motion During Crystal Evaporation

Abstract

AbstractThe rate of decay of a macroscopic sinusoidal grating etched into a clean surface can be predicted from its surface and volume diffusion coefficients and the partial pressure of the material. The microscopic theory of crystal growth and evaporation of Hirth and Pound has produced an expression for the step velocity for a surface in equilibrium with its own vapor, which was used to simulate the decay of a sinusoidal surface. The macroscopic decay rate was determined from the measured surface diffusion coefficient and the equilibrium vapor pressure of the Ni (100) surface. The rate of decay of a model sinusoidal grating surface using the microscopic step velocities was inconsistent with the observable mnacroscopic results. Reasons for this are discussed.