Stability and dynamic of strain mediated adatom superlattices on Cu<111Â >

► Substrate strain mediated adatom density distributions have been calculated. ► Complementing simulations show superlattices of adatoms or clusters. ► Conditions for their stability and the dynamic of adatoms are analyzed. ► Collective modes of adatom diffusion are proposed. ► The explanation of surface state mediated interactions is put in question.