| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9594603 | Surface Science | 2005 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
We consider the effect of nucleation on a one-dimensional stepped surface, finding that step-flow growth is metastable for any strength of the additional step-edge barrier. The surface is made unstable by the formation of a critical nucleus, whose lateral size is related to the destabilization process on a high-symmetry surface. Arguments based on a critical nucleus of height two, which suggest the existence of a fully stable regime for small barrier, fail to describe this phenomenon.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Chemistry
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Authors
Daniele Vilone, Claudio Castellano, Paolo Politi,