Nonequilibrium Interface Dynamics:
Fundamental Physical Issues in Nonequilibrium Interface Dynamics

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Hybrid Methods for the Computation of Epitaxial Growth

Dr. Peter Smereka

Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan

Abstract:   We introduce an algorithm for treating growth on surfaces which combines important features of continuum methods and Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations. We treat the motion of adatoms in continuum theory, but attach them to islands one atom at a time. Our method allows us to give a realistic account of fluctuations in island shape, which is lacking in deterministic continuum treatments and which is an important physical effect. Our method should be most important for problems close to equilibrium where KMC becomes impractically slow.