A comparison of equilibrium crystal shapes and periodic surface profiles below T-R

The steady-state shape of a periodic surface profile is compared with the one-dimensional truncated equilibrium shape of a small crystal in a common orientational zone. The shapes are calculated under the assumption of an orientation dependent surface free energy, gamma(theta), in either a mean field or the Gruber-Mullins/Prokovsky Talapov formulation. Shape differences can be observed and are attributed to the dynamic character of the profile. The general question of utilizing the equilibrium crystal shapes or the shapes of periodic profiles for analyzing the physical nature of gamma(theta) is discussed.