Dynamics of an adsorption-induced roughening transition as a phase transition in a vacancy subsystem
Borman V. D., Tapinskaya O. V., Tronin V. N., Troyan V. I.
This letter analyzes the dynamics of a first-order phase transition in the vacancy subsystem in a surface layer of silicon which results in a roughening transition of the silicon surface. Two possible mechanisms for the onset of supersaturation in the vacancy system are proposed. A phase diagram for the transition is found. The distribution of roughness features with respect to height and wave vector is derived. Conditions under which quasiperiodic structures appear on the surface and a stochastic roughness arises are predicted. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.