How “Hot Precursors” Modify Island Nucleation: A Rate-Equation Model

Josue R. Morales-Cifuentes, T. L. Einstein, and A. Pimpinelli
Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 246101 – Published 10 December 2014

Abstract

We propose a novel island nucleation and growth model explicitly including transient (ballistic) mobility of the monomers deposited at rate F, assumed to be in a hot precursor state before thermalizing. In limiting regimes, corresponding to fast (diffusive) and slow (ballistic) thermalization, the island density N obeys scaling NFα. In between is found a rich, complex behavior, with various distinctive scaling regimes, characterized by effective exponents αeff and activation energies that we compute exactly. Application to N(F,T) of recent organic-molecule deposition experiments yields an excellent fit.

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  • Received 3 August 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.246101

© 2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Josue R. Morales-Cifuentes1,2,*, T. L. Einstein1,2,†, and A. Pimpinelli1,3,‡

  • 1Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-4111, USA
  • 2CMTC, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-4111, USA
  • 3Rice Quantum Institute & MSNE Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA

  • *jmorale4@umd.edu
  • einstein@umd.edu
  • ap19@rice.edu

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Vol. 113, Iss. 24 — 12 December 2014

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