Low temperature shape relaxation of 2-d islands by edge diffusion

Abstract

We present a precise microscopic description of the limiting step for low temperature shape relaxation of two dimensional islands in which activated diffusion of particles along the boundary is the only mechanism of transport allowed. In particular, we are able to explain why the system is driven irreversibly towards equilibrium. Based on this description, we present a scheme for calculating the duration of the limiting step at each stage of the relaxation process. Finally, we calculate numerically the total relaxation time as predicted by our results and compare it with simulations of the relaxation process.

11 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. B

References in corpus (3)

• Growth of nanostructures by cluster deposition : a review
• Changing shapes in the nanoworld
• Kinetics of shape equilibration for two-dimensional islands

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of oscillatory shape evolution for electromigration-driven islands
• Relaxation kinetics in two-dimensional structures
• Single-layer metal-on-metal islands driven by strong time-dependent forces
• Equilibrium return times of small fluctuating clusters and vacancies
• Controlling the shape of small clusters with and without macroscopic fields