Rate equations and Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogoroff method for modelling the coverage-time dependence in thin film growth at solid surfaces

A system of rate equations previously proposed in the literature [Phys. Rev. B 54 (1996) 9828] has been numerically solved. At variance with the other rate equation schemes adopted until now, as well as describing the nucleation stage, the new scheme allows one to follow the film growth to its completion. This result has been achieved thanks to the right treatment of the impingement process among the growing clusters. Moreover, the new approach also allows one to predict whether or not the nucleation can be considered as simultaneous for given growth conditions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.