It was recalled that the random motion of atoms, along the periphery of a 2-dimensional island on a solid surface, caused the island to diffuse. By using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, it was shown here that the diffusion coefficient of the island exhibited a power-law dependence upon the island-size. However, contrary to the predictions of simple models, the exponent depended upon the temperature and upon the nature of the material.

Island Migration caused by the Motion of the Atoms at the Border: Size and Temperature Dependence of the Diffusion Coefficient A.Bogicevic, S.Liu, J.Jacobsen, B.Lundqvist, H.Metiu: Physical Review B, 1998, 57[16], R9459-62