STRUCTURE AND PHASE-TRANSITIONS OF GROWN AND EQUILIBRATED ALLOYS

We explore the relationship between cellular-automata-based growth models and equilibrium thermodynamic models of material structure. Application is to the growth of (GaAs)1-xSi2x-type alloys. As a function of x these alloys have an order-disorder phase transition. We address a controversy over the relevance of growth models or equilibrium statistical models to the description of the alloy structure, and particularly the critical properties of the phase transition. Experiments to determine the relevance of the models are proposed. © 1990 The American Physical Society.