MOLECULAR-BEAM EPITAXIAL-GROWTH AND SURFACE-DIFFUSION

We investigate the statistical properties of the surface of thin films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE). We present and analyze a simple model of MBE growth which incorporates surface diffusion and deposition in a physically correct manner. The short-time behavior does not correspond to that predicted by the continuum model of Villain, Das Sarma, and others. At long times, the model is governed by Kardar-Parisi-Zhang dynamics.