Level-set methods for the simulation of epitaxial phenomena

Abstract

We introduce a model for epitaxial phenomena based on the motion of island boundaries, which is described by the level-set method. Our model treats the growing film as a continuum in the lateral direction, but retains atomistic discreteness in the growth direction. An example of such an ``island dynamics'' model using the level-set method is presented and compared with the corresponding rate equation description. Extensions of our methodology to more general settings are then discussed.