Physical Review B February 15, 1998 -- Vol, 57, pp. 3939-3948
Two-dimensional dynamical model for step bunching and pattern formation
induced by surface reconstruction
Hyeong-Chai Jeong and John D. Weeks
Abstract
Surface reconstruction on sufficiently wide terraces on a vicinal surface
can cause the formation of step bunches. We consider this process in the
nucleation regime using a two-dimensional (2D) dynamical model that
describes both surface reconstruction and the effects of the growth of a
reconstructed facet on the motion of neighboring steps. When there is
local mass transport, we show that the growth of a reconstructed facet can
induce the growth of a similar facet nearby, leading to regular
arrangements of flat facets separated by step bunches and to other
characteristic 2D step patterns.
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