It was recalled that growth on vicinal surfaces typically occurred via the nucleation and growth of islands, or via step flow. Here, computational results were presented which were based upon an island dynamics model that used a level-set technique that considered the transition between these 2 competing mechanisms. The results demonstrated that the rate of diffusion of atoms along step edges was an additional parameter that controlled the competition between these mechanisms.

Influence of Edge Diffusion on the Growth Mode on Vicinal Surfaces. C.Ratsch, J.Garcia, R.E.Caflisch: Applied Physics Letters, 2005, 87[14], 141901 (3pp)