A study was made of the dynamics of adatoms, on a model vicinal (11m) face-centered cubic metal surface, with regard to the role which was played by various diffusion mechanisms. In particular, a study was made of the effect of steps and kinks on adatom dynamics. It was shown that the existence of kinks was very important for adatom motion along, and across, steps. The results were in agreement with recent experiments on Cu(100) and Cu(1,1,19) surfaces. The results also suggested that, for some metals, exotic diffusion mechanisms could be important for mass transport across steps.

J.Merikoski, T.Ala-Nissila: Physical Review B, 1995, 52[12], R8715-8