Transition to Multilayer Kinetic Roughening for Metal (100) Homoepitaxy

Abstract

A model for metal (100) homoepitaxy is developed which describes irreversible submonolayer nucleation and growth of 2D square islands, and the subsequent transition to multilayer growth. Roughness is sensitive to the additional barrier to descend a step, which is estimated for Fe/Fe(100). We find oscillatory height-height correlations and non-Gaussian height and height-difference distributions, necessitating refinement of existing diffraction theory. We predict the disappearance of a diffraction ring during growth, and a nonmonotonic variation of roughness with temperature.