Morphological evolution of strained films by cooperative nucleation

D. E. Jesson, K. M. Chen, S. J. Pennycook, T. Thundat, R. J. Warmack

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

142 Scopus citations

Abstract

We identify a new mechanism of stress driven surface morphological evolution in strained semiconductor films. Surface roughness forms by a cooperative mechanism involving the sequential nucleation of islands and pits, which is distinct from the conventional view of ripple formation as an Asaro-Tiller-Grinfeld (ATG) instability. This mechanism is operative both during annealing and growth and competes with the ATG instability as a kinetic pathway to ripple formation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1330-1333
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume77
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes

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