A fusion-crystalization mechanism for nucleation of misfit dislocations in FCC epitaxial films

Molecular dynamics simulations of epitaxial growth of aluminum films under compression have revealed a novel fusion-crystallization mechanism for nucleation of a misfit dislocation, in which a local disorder zone forms in the surface and near-surface layers, followed by re-crystallization, in which the misfit dislocation is nucleated. The origin of the local fusion has been investigated.