Formation of pyramidal etch hillocks in a Kossel crystal

Surface roughening due to anisotropic etching was studied experimentally and modeled using the Monte Carlo method for a Kossel crystal. Simulations were used to explore a possible formation mechanism for the appearance of etch hillocks in two and three dimensions. Similarities with pyramidal etch hillocks that are regularly observed in anisotropic etching of Si(1 0 0) are discussed.